Development does exist

   Sport   2 Minutes

By Tony Mariadass

IT was a sight to behold to see Under-12 boys and girls with hockey sticks at an Excellence Camp organized by the School Sports Council of Parit Raja district, Batu Pahat, which was launched on October 28th at the Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia University (UTHM) Stadium in Batu Pahat.

When development programmes, especially those done by schools in remote places, are rare, the program initiated by Nazri Omar, the National Hockey Development Programme (NHDP) coach in Kluang, and Roslee Satar, the headmaster of SK Tanjong Semberong, with the assistance of the Co-Curriculum division of the school, was a welcome sight.

 As there were many more school children interested in the game from the schools in the district and outside the NHDP, the interest shown by the children and parents was overwhelming.

A self-funded programme by the parents and well-wishers, certainly augurs well for the future of the game.

The children were also excited about the 13th edition of the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup tournament, which will be held at the Bukit Jalil Stadium from December 5 to 16. They plan to come to Kuala Lumpur to witness at least a few matches.

“Cikgu Roslee and I decided to start a programme for the many children who were interested in the game, and also the parents approached us,” said the 38-year-old Nazri, a former army man.

“Cikgu Roslee was very enthusiastic, and he wrote to the district sports council to seek their approval for the programme.

“The Education Department for Batu Pahat was very supportive after reviewing the programme, and thus we started with this camp, to be followed by two (November 25th and December 23rd).”

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“The parents have also been very supportive, and our funds for the programme come from donations from them,” said Roslee.

“We also receive donations from well-wishers, and all funds are channeled to the District  Sports Council’s office. We draw the funds for our activities from them upon approval.””

Coaches comprise various schools in the district – chief coach Mohd Suhaime Hasbullah (SK Jelotong), technical coach Muhammad Afiffudinn Ariffin (SK Seri Reja Sari), coaches for boys, Ahmad Fahmi Mat Khadzi (SK Seri Pandan) and Mohd Ridzuan Katman (SK Tanjong Semberong), and coaches for girls, Siti Nurul Awang (SK Seri Manggis) and Nur Dhabitah Rahmat (SK Pintas Puding).

The programme received a boost when Ahli Dewan Negeri Johor N22 Kawasan Parit Raja, Nor Rashidah Ramli, came to launch the programme on October 28th. She was very impressed with the programme and personally donated RM1,000.00 towards the project and promised to speak and write to UTHM to provide their field for free on a more regular basis.

Currently, the programme uses the Batu Pahat field on weekends.

National Junior team manager for the Junior World Cup, I. Vickneswaran, a personal friend of Nazri, took time off from the Sultan of Johor Cup tournament in Johor Bahru, where the team is participating, to come to Batu Pahat to give a motivational talk and also conduct a short coaching clinic.

Vickneswaran, the Kuala Lumpur HA president, is also the coach of the victorious KL team at the recent Razak Cup tournament.

Vickneswaran also donated two dozen hockey balls towards the programme.

“The children are very enthusiastic and committed to the programme,” said Roslee.

“We will definitely be making arrangements to bring as many children from this programme to the Junior World Cup matches in Kuala Lumpur for them to witness some of the young and future talent of the game,” said Nazri.

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“The trip to the Junior World Cup matches will indeed be a treat and a learning experience for these young children,” said Nazri, the advisor to the programme.