SIBURAN: The young footballers competing in the Inter-District Under 11 Yayasan Sarawak Silver Cup football tourney were urged to emulate the nation’s diving queen Pandelela Rinong’s achievements in the quest to become the world’s top athletes.
Padawan district education office assistant co-curriculum supervisor, Su’aidi Julai said in order to excel in sports, the ultimate challenge lies in the development period that spans from adolescence into early adulthood.
“Athletes as early as age 10 must begin to firmly understand the concept of winning and losing in their competitive outcomes…furthermore we are seeing an ever increasing number of youths becoming professionals and they have the opportunities to travel the world for exposure and wider experience,” Su’aidi said during the closing cum prize giving ceremony.
In the finals, Kuching B bounced back to beat Padawan 2-1 and to emerge champion of the inter-district under-11 football tourney held at Padawan Mini Stadium.
Padawan scored first in the 8th minutes through Alvin Dexter Chai while Kuching B’s goals were scored by Amirullah Solehan in the second half.
Finishing in third place was Bau after trouncing Kuching A 4-0.
According to the organising committee chairman, Anthony Yong Chu Hui said the event is providing a good avenue to select players to represent Kuching in the coming inter-division championship to be held in Miri from Sept 6 to 9.
Yong alson disclosed that talented players from the state level competitions would have the opportunity to be selected to train in Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) Sarawak Football Development Programme under former Sarawak coaches-Alan Vest and his deputy, Lucas Kallang.
In the state level championship, 10 out of 18 Kuching players will be represented by those from Kuching B while others are from Padawan and Bau.
Those shortlisted for Kuching team are namely, Mohd. Ifran Syahmi Irwandy, Muhammad Mustaqim Seli, Amirullah Solehan Amri Eddy, Abg. Nur’Affirdin Abang Azlan, Wan Najib Aizat Wan Mansor, Mohd. Azlan Mazlan, Iskandar Shah Gary, Mohd. Ezzral Azizi Kepli, Beckham Aini (Kuching B) Pinsen Renas, Nurisshyam Abdullah, Mohd. Aiman Naim Asehari, Treenazo Taro, Alvin Dexter Chai, Jefferson (Padawan) , Luis Mclay, Winsler Slega Singing and Shahdree of Bau.