ROSLINDA FINALLY BACK IN MALAYSIA

Ex-pole vault queen Roslinda finally back in Malaysia

By Tony Mariadass - May 30, 2020

Roslinda (second right) with her course mates from the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz.

Former top athlete Roslinda Samsu returned to Malaysia yesterday after being stranded in Mainz, Germany.

After a year-long coaching course in the German city, she obtained an athletics coaching diploma from the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz on May 15

Roslinda was supposed to come back on June 1 but her flight was cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

The academy, on learning of her flight cancellation, helped Roslinda find an alternative flight on May 28 from Frankfurt.

Roslinda finally arrived at KLIA yesterday at 7.30pm, after leaving Mainz to Frankfurt by train to catch a KLM flight. She transited in Amsterdam and Bangkok.

The whole journey from Mainz to Kuala Lumpur took 22 hours.

Upon arrival, Roslinda had to undergo the mandatory 14-day quarantine and was taken to a hotel in Petaling Jaya.

"Never mind the quarantine, I am just glad to be back after a year away.

"Earlier I had doubts I could get home after my initial flight for June 1 was cancelled," said a relieved Roslinda after arriving at KLIA.

Roslinda, who turns 38 on June 9, is not disappointed that she will have to spend her birthday in quarantine.

"As much as I miss spending my birthday with my parents in Kuala Nerang (Kedah), I am just glad to be back on Malaysian soil.

"In any case, it will be a unique birthday in quarantine which I will remember forever," said Roslinda.

The former pole vaulter has soared high on paper too, emerging top student, together with Hakim Ibrahim from Azerbaijan.

Ten coaches from Cambodia, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria, Tanzania, Azerbaijan and Malaysia attended the year-long course.

Roslinda, who teaches physical education, civics and sports science at Pahang Sports School, is a four-time Sea Games gold medallist and the 2006 Asian Games silver medallist.

She looks forward to spending time with her parents and siblings (she is the fifth among five girls and three boys) after the quarantine.

"I am glad that everything has worked out well in the end, and above all having attained the diploma," said Roslinda who did the course in German.

Her study in Maniz was fully sponsored by the institute, and she had only pay for the airfare, which was sponsored by the National Sports Council.

Roslinda's diploma is equivalent to the B licence athletics coaching certificate in Germany and IAAF Level 2 certification.

"I learnt a great deal there and I am eager to impart the knowledge here," she said.

Roslinda, whose motto is Never Give Up, said: "Now that I am home, I can't wait to begin my next two goals: enhance grassroots development programmes for athletics and to help produce more women pole vaulters.

"There is a lot of paperwork on grassroots back home but not implemented to the best.

"I want to make a difference and ensure that grassroots development moves to top priority and a different level."

Roslinda, who competed in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, still holds the national record of 4.40m, set in Spain in 2006.

She won the bronze medal at the 2005 Asian Athletics championships in Incheon, South Koreas and gold at the 2007 championship in Amman, Jordan.

ROSLINDA BACK HOME FROM MAINZ

 

By Tony Mariadass

 

Former pole vault queen Roslinda Samsu returned home last night (Thursday), after earlier being stranded in Mainz, Germany.

 

She was attending a coaching course in Mainz for a year and successfully achieved an athletics coaching diploma at the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz on May 15.

 

Roslinda was earlier supposed to fly back on June 1, but the flight was cancelled, because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

The Academy learning of her flight cancellation, helped her find an alternative flight and even managed to get her on an earlier available flight at the last minute, to fly out late night on May 28 from Frankfurt.

 

Roslinda arrived in KLIA Thursday night at 7.30pm, after leaving Mainz to Frankfurt by train to catch her KLM flight, which transited in Amsterdam and Bangkok. Her total journey from Mainz to Kuala Lumpur took her 22 hours.

 

However, upon arrival, Roslinda had to undergo the mandatory 14 days quarantine and was whizzed to a quarantine hotel in Petaling Jaya.

 

“Never mind the quarantine. I am just glad to be back home after a year and after earlier having doubts of getting a flight back home, when my initial flight for June 1, was cancelled,” said a relived Roslinda after arriving in KLIA.

 

Roslinda who turns 38 on June 9, was also not perturbed that she had to spend her birthday in quarantine.

 

“As much I will miss spending my birthday with my parents in Kuala Nerang (Kedah), I am just glad to be back on Malaysian soil. In any case, it will be a unique birthday in quarantine which I will remember forever,” said Roslina who received her diploma on May 15 from the Academy, where she emerged the top student, together with another from Azerbaijan (Hakim Ibrahim).

 

Ten coaches from Cambodia, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria, Tanzania, Azerbaijan and Malaysia attended the year long course.

 

The Pahang Sports School teacher who teaches physical education, civics and sports science, was four-time SEA games gold medallist and 2006 Asian Games silver medallist, said she was looking forward to spending time with her parents and siblings (she comes from a family of eight and is the fifth among five girls and three boys) after the quarantine.

 

“I am glad that everything has worked out well in the end and above all having attained the diploma,” said Roslinda who did the course in German.

 

The course in Maniz was fully sponsored by the Institute and she had only pay for the airfare, which was paid by the National Sports Council.

 

The diploma Roslinda attained is equivalent to the B licence athletics coaching certificate in Germany and IAAF Level 2 certification.

 

“I learnt a great deal there and eager impart the knowledge here,” said Roslinda.

 

Roslinda whose motto is Never Give Up, said she set a goal and just strived for it to achieve their diploma.

 

“Now that I am home, I can’t wait to begin my next two goals – enhance the grassroots development programme for athletics and to help produce more women pole vaulters.

 

“There is a lot of paperwork on grassroots back home but not implemented to the best. I want to make a difference and ensure that grassroots development moves to top priority and a different level,” said Roslinda who was spotted by her school teacher coach Man Sahar.

 

Roslinda still holds the national record of 4.40m (her personal best) which she set in Spain in 2006 (24 years ago).

Roslinda had won the bronze medal at the2005 Asian Athletics championship in Incheon, South Koreas and captured the gold medal at the 2007 championship in Amman, Jordon.

Roslinda is also an Olympian having competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Ends.

REST IN PEACE JASWANT

JASWANT’S UNDYING LOVE FOR FOOTBALL

The late DSP (Rtd) Jaswant Singh is among the rare breed of football lovers who did so much for game, but who was hardly in the limelight.

Jaswant in his 80s passed away today and may not even remember him because he was from the 60s to 80s era.

He founded the Malays, Indian, Chinese and Others FC (MICO) in the 70s – a club formed for boys staying around Cheras and they trained at the JKR field.

He was president, manager and coach all wrapped out in one.

Jaswant was also a referee from the 60s and rose to become national and then FIFA referee for a couple of years. After he retired as a referee he was the referees assessor with FA of Malaysia.

He was national referee in an era we had many notable referees like S. Kathirvale, Othman Omar, Koh Guan Kiat and Mohd Noh Saud to name a few.

MICO played in the Selangor League initially before crossing over to Kuala Lumpur FA.

Jaswant was among the pioneers members, led by former FA of Selangor secretary, late K. Rasalingam who passed on recently, who were founder members of KLFA in 1975.
Other founder members include the late Goh Ah Chai, late Hamzah Muhammad, late Shaeiff Mustafa, late T, Manickarajah and M.J. Vincent.

“In 1977 when KLFA organised their first League, Jeswant’s team MICO were given the honour to kick-off the inaugural league match  to play against Bunga Raya FC in a Division match at the Merdeka Stadium witnessed by the first president of KLFA late Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah,” said Datuk K. Sabaratnam a former referee with Selangor who crossed over to KL and was a former Council member of KLFA for decades.

 “Jaswant besides coaching and managing his team, being a founder member of KLFA, he played a key role in the development of referees in KL besides having refereed in the League. He was also manager of KL youth teams” said Sabaratnam who was KLFA referees board chairman too.

Datuk George Joseph, former FIFA referee, who was one of the linesmen at the Merdeka tournament where Jaswant was refereeing to attain his FIFA badge in the late 80s said the deceased was passionate about refereeing and always gave his best.

“Those days the Merdeka tournament was one of the few international tournaments where referees were assessed for the FIFA badge and we had referees from Korea, Japan, Indonesia and Singapore doing their assessment,” said George.

Another former police officer, Geoffery Sivanathan, said Jaswant was a gentleman, caring, a joker and live-wire of any gathering but committed in whatever he did.

“I and five players others from our village – Air Panas in Setapak – played for MICO for two years from 1978. In the first year we won the Division One title,” recalled the 61 year-old Geoffery.

“Datuk Santokh Singh, also from Air Panas, told a few of us that there was no place in the Air Panas team – Hotspurs – which was laden with talent and told us to play for teams outside the village if we wanted to improve our game.

“We went to join a team in Kampong Pandan and we did not like it. Then we heard of Mico in Cheraa and went to join them, although we had to travel a distance from Air Panas. The rest was history and Jaswant played a key role in moulding us.

“I became a police officer because of Jaswant who submitted my application form,” said Geoffery whose late father was a police officer.

“When I wanted to apply for a job in the Police earlier, my father torn up my application. It was Jaswant who sent in my application much later and I got the job.”

Former KL and international goalkeeper, M. Pavalamani, said Jaswant recruited him to play for MICO when he was playing for the KL Razak Cup team in 1982.

“I played for a season for MICO, as I also stayed in Cheras. It was memorable moments with Jaswant who was so passionate about the game and trying to mould players from the area,” said Pavalamani.

I have personally known Jaswant since I first started reporting in the late 70s.

I even managed to persuade Jaswant to coach the KL Malay Mail FC team for a season.

He was stickler for fitness and a no nonsense coach, but a great friend and company.

The KL Malay Mail FC team with Jaswant went for a training stint which included matches in Manila and Baguio City in Philippines.

Fond memories will always be remembered by all whom Jaswant had touched through the beautiful game of football.

Rest in peace dear Jaswant coach, manager, referee and friend.

ROSLINDA GESTRANDET IN GERMANY

ROSLINDA GESTRANDET IN GERMANY 

By Tony Mariadass

https://www.nst.com.my/sports/others/2020/05/593183/ex-national-pole-vaulter-stranded-germany

Former pole vault queen Roslinda Samsu, is stranded in Mainz, Germany after being there for a year and successfully achieving another feather to her cap to her coaching career, at the DLV-International Coaching Academy at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz.

Roslinda who turns 38 on June 9, received her diploma on Friday from the Academy, as she emerged the top student of the course, which saw ten coaches from Cambodia, Myanmar, Mexico, Nigeria, Tanzania and Azerbaijan attend.

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“I was looking forward to returning home after a year and share my joy of my success here with my aged parents in Kuala Nerang (Kedah), and at the same time, spend my birthday with them,” said Roslinda who did the course in German.

“I was supposed to fly back on June 1, but the flight has been cancelled and I don’t know when it will be available again,” said a disappointed Roslinda in a telephone interview after her award presentation ceremony in Mainz.

“If it was not bad enough having to miss being home with my parents for Hari Raya, now even when I finally return, I will have to spend 14 days compulsory quarantine because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

“At this rate, I really do not know when I will be back. I really miss home and being with my parents and siblings,” said Roslinda, who comes a family of eight and is the fifth among five girls and three boys.

The Pahang Sports School teacher who teaches physical education, civics and sports science, was four-time SEA games gold medallist and 2006 Asian Games silver medallist, said she was grateful to many for her stint in Germany.

“I owe a great deal to the Ministry of Education, National Sports Council (NSC), Malaysia Athletics Federation, the German Embassy in Malaysia (deputy head of mission Dr David Krivanek) and of course to the Institute here for offering this valuable course with top level instructors.”

The course in Maniz was fully sponsored by the Institute and she had only pay for the airfare, which was paid by NSC.

The diploma Roslinda attained is equivalent to the B licence athletics coaching certificate in Germany and IAAF Level 2 certification.

“I learnt a great deal here and eager impart the knowledge back home. It will be waste if I do not impart the knowledge attained here,” said Roslinda who did the course in German.

“Our first three months here was to learn basic German (speak, read and write). It was tough, but I managed. And I am proud to have passed off as the top student, having sat for the examination in German.”

Roslinda said when she came to the Institute a year ago, she had sat and listened to the best student of the previous year speak.

“Then I told myself that I want to be the one to deliver the speech next year,” revealed Roslinda.

“A few days ago, I got an email saying that I had scored the highest points. And as the best student, I had to give a speech at the graduation. This was my happiest day in Germany.”

Roslinda delivering her speech together with Hakim Ibrahim  (Azerbaijan) at diploma certification presentation on Friday in Mainz

Roslinda whose motto is Never Give Up, said she set a goal and just strived for it.

“I am glad that I achieved it and indeed it is a proud moment for me. I now can’t wait to get home to begin my next two goals – enhance the grassroots development programme for athletics and to help produce more women pole vaulters.

“There is a lot of paperwork on grassroots back home but not implemented to the best. I want to make a difference and ensure that grassroots development moves to top priority and a different level,” said Roslinda who was spotted by her school teacher coach Man Sahar.

“I was 14 d my Cikgu Man, asked me to do a chin up and it was my first and only test and he told me that I would take up pole vault. That’s how I got my start,” recalled Roslinda.

Roslinda still holds the national record of 4.40m (her personal best) which she set in Spain in 2006 (24 years ago).

Roslinda had won the bronze medal at the2005 Asian Athletics championship in Incheon, South Koreas and captured the gold medal at the 2007 championship in Amman, Jordon.

Roslinda is also an Olympian having competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

 

Ends.