THE WAY FORWARD IN FOOTBALL WITH IRC
By Tony Mariadass
Pictures by Prakash Pillai
THE 10th Interact Recreation Club (IRC) International 7s football tournament at the IRC Arena at Seremban 2, a fortnight ago, was elevated to distinguished level, that it will be part of the Negri Sembilan tourism promotion event next year.
The mayor of Seremban City Council, Datuk Hj Masri Razali, who officially declared the tournament open in the morning and MP for Bukit Kepayang and State Exco member Nicole Tan Lee Koon, who officiated the closing, were impressed with the professional organisation of the 20 teams tournament and the facilities at Arena IRC, that both echoed to see the tournament to be elevated to the next level next year.
This is a fantastic intentional standard tournament and with grand facilities, with so many teams and their families here. It will be shame if this tournament is not capitalised on to make it part of Negri Sembilan’s tourist attraction event,” said Masri Razali.
“I concur with the Mayor. It maybe a private tournament organised by a club, but it superbly organised with some many teams both local and international competing,” said Nicole Tan.
The 20 teams who competed in the competition were - Brunei VFA, Club SC Melaka, Bintang Timur Medan, RS World KL, Reds Penampang Sabah (A), Reds Penampang Sabah (B), SJN FC Kuching, Pangazou Penampang, Sabah (A), Pangazou Penampang, Sabah (B), Melwood FA KL, Sarawak King Utd, RSUC NS, Royal Selangor Club, Penang Sports Club, Indian Association Penang, International Football Club KL, Liverpool Kopites FC, NS, Ex-Selangor, Judati FC, NS and host IRC.
IRC have been existence for 16 years, and it was their Arena chairman Datuk P. Ragunathan, who came into the club 11 years ago, who has elated their club to become an iconic veteran club who have top class playing facilities.
Through the effort of Ragu, as he is fondly known, the club proudly managed the Interact Recreation Club (IRC) Arena located at the Bandar Sri Sendayan Tamil Primary School which has a clubhouse and field with flood lights when they adopted the school team as a pilot community project.
Together with current president of the club, Datuk Alex Soosay, the former Asian Football Confederation secretary general, they have elevated the club facilities to a professional club status.
“I have spent quite a substantial amount so far to develop the arena and will need more to put up the finishing touches to make it a complete Sporting Arena, with all the facilities in place,” said Ragu.
“It is work in progress all these years and we are almost nearing to have a complete international arena through the imitative of a private club in Seremban, which started as a small club,” said the football passionate Ragu.
“It is my dream to see our club produce not only future state players but national players.”
The club already has a development programme in place with its Football Academy for both boys and girls.
“I may have a dream, but it is the dream of the club and it’s tirelessly working members who make this club tick in clockwise precision.
“Organsing chairman K, Muthusamy and his committee have been working tireless for the last two months to put this tournament together and to ensure all participants not only enjoy the tournament on top class pitches, but have facilities to rest and have their food to have a pleasant experience.”
Special tents were set up in an enclosed area which served as ‘Village’ for the teams to rest with the comfort of tables and chairs in place.
Food stalls were plenty for the players to have a variety of food.
Indeed, it was a carnival atmosphere with music played in the background.
Besides the Seremban Mayor and Nicole who were present at the tournament to lend their support, others present include ex-internationals Datuk Soh Chin, Datuk Santokh Singh, Ho Hon Seong, Khalid Ali, NSFA secretary Satwant Singh, Dr R.V. Shyam Prasad and Datuk N. Logendran.
The tournament was won by IFC beating LKFC on penalty kicks (4-2) after the game ended 1-1after regulation time.
In the third placing match, Club SC Melaka beat Sarawak United 4-2.
A two-day darts competition for both men and women, where 120 darters competed was also held at the school hall.
ENDS.
