Lau (fourth from left) receives the coloursLau (fourth from left) receives the colours from coaches Wong and Lee. Looking on (at fifth and sixth left) are Ting and Moh. from coaches Wong and Lee. Looking on (at fifth and sixth left) are Ting and Moh.
SIBU: Sarawak Volleyball Association (Sava) president Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau Lee Ming has spared no effort to pump words of inspiration into the players of the state volleyball teams for the coming the 18th Milo-Malaysia Youth Under-16 Volleyball Championship to be held in Johore from Nov 27-30.
“Fight hard and I am confident the teams can return with both titles,” he said during the flag-handing over ceremony held at Sibu Volleyball Stadium at Rejang Park yesterday morning.
With him were Sibu Volleyball Association President Dr William Ting and Dato Moh Wung Ming.
Sarawak are the defending champion for the boys’ section while the girls only managed a third placing in last year’s competition held in Terengganu.
Lau reminded the players to stay committed and focused in their game and only then, can they deliver their best.
He said it was not easy for Sava to send the players to the competition in West Malaysia which was costly and hugely expensive.
“Since you are selected for the tournament, enjoy your time but also make sure you will try your best to bring back the titles.”
Moh, in his brief remarks, admitted that it was never easy to send teams to West Malaysia for any competition.
“Just for this tournament alone, we need to spend about RM60,000 on preparation and other logistics,” he added.
As such, he said the players should appreciate what the association leaders had done for them.
Moh said Sava never failed to send teams for tournaments held in West Malaysia and which speaks well of the association under the capable leaderships of Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau, Dr William Ting and also Sava deputy president Dr Gregory Hii.
‘This is what makes us proud and that is why we are always the team that other states like to beat,” said Moh who added that it would be a different story should a national tournament be held in Sibu.
As in the case of the coming Milo-Malaysia Youth U-14 volleyball championship to be held here from Dec 7-11, Moh said it was still too premature to figure out whether it would get an encouraging response.
“We do hope to get as many West Malaysian teams to come and compete as possible but unfortunately, many of these teams do not seem to have an interest or are committed to come here,” he said.
Moh said it would also be the first time a national volleyball tournament for U-14 category will be held here.
“This is going to be real interesting and again, we hope local supporters will come in full force the watch the matches,” he said, adding the successes brought in hosting the Sukma volleyball matches had motivated them to do more to promote the sport.
Boys’ team:
Narawi Abdullah, Harold Lejau Sii, Yiet Tien Yian, Alfred Wong, Daniel Law, Anselm Hu, Soon Wei Gang, Kiu Sie Dak, Jason Kong, Law Chin Wu, Nicholas Sii and Sii Yung Sing;
Head coach – Lee Say Hou;
Team manager – Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau Lee Ming.
Girls’ team:
Winnie Toh, Maida Song, Amy Sia, Roslind Nee, Fion Law, Catherine Wong, Yet Min Wei, Audrey Yong, Yii Jia Wen, Yii Siew Jing, Keelly Wong and Lucy Ting;
Head coach – Wong Shoou Jang;
Team manager – Dr William Ting