Sport Development

Malaysia's sports should change from the traditional mindset, that is after school/academic studies, most sports person drop out from their sport, prompting the saying Universities are the graveyards of sports...

On another point.... Sarawak Football

Friday, September 26th, 2008 (Borneo Post)
Turning point for Sarawak football By Martin Yee
KUCHING: Football development in the state has been given a much-needed leg-up with Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry set to spearhead a programme aimed at transforming grass-roots talents into future state players.
A holistic approach under a new Sarawak development steering committee will form the cornerstone of this new initiative to ensure the continual flow of potential players to the senior team.
The long-term strategy – from now till 2012 – will target two Sukmas and to meet this goal, agencies like Sarawak State Sports Council, Youth and Sports Department, Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) and Education Department will be roped in. The new strategy, likely to take off in November, will include upgrading of school coaches and a series of competitions enhanced with adequate facilities and coaching.
The development thrust will be on the Under-17 to 21 groups and the steering committee will be tasked with monitoring the trainees after they leave school.
Those who decide to stay with the programme will be paid an allowance.
Players who have shown promise stand a good chance of being absorbed into the senior team.
Meanwhile, FAS, now relieved of the ‘development’ responsibility, will take charge of only the senior team competing in the M-League. Sarawak have been relegated to the Premier League after finishing last in the Super League last season.
However, the association will not be totally divorced from the committee in charge of development since its president, Daro assemblyman Murni Suhaili, is deputy chairman of the committee, headed by Ik Pahon Joyik, permanent secretary to Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry.
Sarawak State Sports Council, represented by director Francis Nyurang Ding, will be the government body responsible for implementing development of the game on the ground.
At a press conference to announce the new steering committee, Social Development and Urbanisation Minister Dato Sri William Mawan Ikom said the ministry had looked at various aspects of football development and agreed the task would be best handled by forming a steering committee.
“We can now move forward and hope this will be the turning point for football development in the state,” he added.