Do it Jose’s way, Mawan tells sports officials

0

Mawan (second right) presenting the government grant to Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) deputy president Datu Abu Bakar Marzuki (right) while (from left) Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban Areas) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Rural Areas) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Assistant Minister of Sports Datuk Lee Kim Shin look on. — Photo by Chimon Upon

KUCHING: Sports officials in the state are encouraged to adopt Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s strategy in managing his players that has proven to be a recipe for success for the English football club currently topping the English Premier League standings.

Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom expressed his confidence that sport organisations in the state would achieve more success by emulating Mourinho’s winning approach.

“I believe that something can be done for our sports development and if they (sports officials) can pick up one of Mourinho’s strategies and spur some extra strength and commitment from their athletes, it can make all the difference,” he told a press conference after presenting government grants to sports and youth associations at the Ministry of Social Development Grant Presentation Ceremony here yesterday.

“By looking into areas where extra effort can be applied, sports officials can lead their athletes, team and organisation towards new heights,” said Mawan.

Mourinho who styled himself as the Special One has won trophies at all the top clubs he managed so far in his career through shrewd management skills.

On preparations for the coming Sukma to be held in Perlis in May and June this year, Mawan said the national sporting event would serve as a test for the state athletes who must be committed and disciplined at all times.

“We did well in the last Sukma Pahang 2012 where we finished fourth place with 42 gold medals
as compared to Sukma Melaka 2010 in which we finished in sixth place with 33 gold medals.

“I am hoping that our contingent will do better in Sukma Perlis 2014 as this will be the prelude to Sukma Sarawak 2016 to which we are the host.

“By then, I hope Sarawak will be able to rise to the occasion and emerge as the champion,” he stressed.

He also disclosed that the preparations are currently ongoing to ensure that the state’s sporting facilities and amenities are of state-of-the-art quality in time for games here in two years’ time.

Also present at the press conference was Ministry of Social Development permanent secretary Affendi Keli.