SUKMA TEAM: File photo shows a Sarawak’s girls volleyball pitcher in action during the Sukma 2011 in Kuala Lumpur.
KUCHING: Kuching will be sending a boys’ team and a combined girls’ team to the Sarawak Softball Association’s (SSA) Under-21 Softball Tournament in Miri from Jan 24-27 which is aimed at selecting the State Sukma teams.
“We are sending a team of 15 players for the boys’ competition and five girls to combine with five girls from Politeknik Mukah and eight from Miri for the girls’ competition because we do not have enough players,” said Kuching team manager Carole Lim yesterday.
The teams will be coached by Alethea Beryl, Kaya Raju, Hatta Aznwar, Vincent and Syahmi Tan.
Lim said four teams Kuching, Betong, Mukah and host Miri will vie for the boys’ crown while only two – Miri and Combined – will contest in the girls’ category.
“From the competition, SSA will select 15 boys and 15 girls to form teams for Sukma XIV in Kuala Lumpur in June,” she added.
The five girls from Kuching are Joanne Soh, Azizah Zamahari and Jeswyn Ze-En Lam (present and former SMK Green Road)
who join Fadelcy Blin and Helmarini Adenon (Politeknik Kuching). Maria Ping, Patricia Suzzane, Nor Fathin, Laynie George Ngau, Karen Lee and Zurfa’ain Za’abaie (Politeknik Mukah) and ‘import’ players namely Nadia Chin Ishak, Vivian Shon, Cassandra Valerie Chin, Keling Lenggang, Micsynna Farynna, Petra Jessiminerra Balang, Masniah Malek and Dora Peter from Miri make up the rest of the Combined team.
As for the boys’ team, 10 are from SMK Green Road: Calvin Brandon Tini Feanny, Haris Mohd Zainuddin, Muhammad Kautsar Untong, Stanley Langgie, Mohd Zainul Ariffin Mohd Jais, Mohd Amni Abharb Bakeri, Muhd Zahhar Shamsul Anuar, Eby Siddiq Sharbini, Awangku Nazirul Awang and Fernandez Mohan.
The rest are Kennedy Douglas Koria, Watson Payrie Stephen, Reduan Saferi, Ashikin An and Azuan Jiee.
“These players were chosen from a selection trial held at SMK St Thomas recently,” said Lim.
She expressed confidence that the team, comprising a majority of players that won the state championship last year, would perform well in Miri and do Kuching proud.
“As the majority of the players are waiting for their SPM results, there is not much problem in getting them down to train for the upcoming competition in Miri,” she added.