Teams shaping up for Club 10’s

THE annual SRU-Dato Sri William Mawan Club 10’s is just one week away and so far, 12 teams have joined – four from across the waters and eight local.Among the teams are Negeri Sembilan Wanderers, RMAF Blackhawks, FT Alamada and JLJ, an army side from the peninsula, and KRFC, Sibu DRU, Unimas, UiTM, Shoaw Old Boys and Kuching Politeknik .

The tournament, starting next Saturday at the Song Kheng Hai Ground, will also have a U-16’s schools category, and the five schools taking part are SMKA Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab (Shoaw), Kolej DPAH Abdillah, SMK St Joseph, SMK Asajaya and SMK Asajaya 2.

Other invited sides are unable to make it mainly because of the costs of flying in a team of 20 or more for the tournament.

The other reason is the proximity of the other tournaments across the waters – some within a week of the SRU-Dato Sri William Mawan Club 10’s.

In fact, this weekend, there are two tournaments – one for schools in Johor (the Iskandar Malaysia 10’s) and the Inter-Politeknik in Shah Alam. And next weekend, there is also the Perak U-23, so most of the peninsular teams will be going for that tournament as it is cheaper than coming for ours.

With the economic climate the way it is, I would do the same if there were two tournaments on the same weekend. But with one week left, there might still be some last-minute confirmation as what happened last year.

At press time, COBRA have indicated they might be coming which will take the number of teams to 13. If this happens, the teams will split into four pools of three for the prelims on the first day.

However, the draw will only be made when the number of teams is firmed, hopefully by this weekend or early next week.

This year, the tournament has been included in the month-long Kuching Festival programme for the first time. Another first is the inclusion of cash prizes for the Cup and Plate events.

The original date for this tournament was this weekend but it was pushed back a week after the SRU president received a call from the Kuching Festival organising chairman to make the tournament a part of the activities.

This is not new move as it had originally been proposed to hold the tournament during the Kuching Festival to draw teams from outside the state with the various events lined up but since the tournament was scrapped in the mid-90’s due the economic climate and poor response, this never came to be.

Hopefully, from now, it will be a Kuching Festival fixture and the SRU can use the occasion as a draw card by including the tournament in the promotion campaign of the Festival.

The SRU has been anticipating at least 16 teams for the tournament with interest from clubs across the waters quite good when the invitations were extended during the MRU annual general meeting in May but due to the proximity of tournaments and prohibitive travelling costs, only a few peninsular teams could make it so far.

The only way to get to Sarawak from West Malaysia is by air and with the return fare for one person at RM800 the very least, the total cost of sending a team of 20 is RM16,000 minimum. Teams from Brunei and Sabah have the option of travelling by land but the time and distance involved will take its toll on the players by the time they reach Kuching.

Prohibitive cost of flights has always been the main obstacle for Sarawak sports associations and clubs wishing to play in tournaments across the waters, and for teams over there to compete here. This is not a new phenomenon as it has been with us for a very long time and apparently, something beneficial to all has to be worked out.

Local sports associations and clubs are not money spinning entities but very much dependent on membership fees and grants from the government.

Corporate sponsorships here are still lacking  – unlike western countries where the corporate sector is eager to sponsor sports.

But even when there are sponsors, rugby is not at the top of the list. So it is the perennial problem of sourcing for funds to finance trips outside the state, or for clubs from across the waters to come here for tournaments. Maybe the Sports Ministry, both at state and federal level, could look into this problem and have a powwow with the airlines to work out a package exclusively for sports associations or clubs to enable them to take part in tournaments outside the state for the exposure and for promoting national integration through sports.

Sports associations and clubs can be requested to give their inputs in the endeavour to bridge the distance between the peninsula and the East Malaysian state.

On a different note, two Sarawak teams will cross the waters this weekend for two tournaments.

SMK Asajaya from Samarahan are in Johor to defend their crown in the U-16 Plate of the Iskandar Malaysia 10’s Rugby Challenge Johor 2010.

SMK Asajaya is the only local school to play in the tournament after making their debut last year and winning the Plate at the first time of asking. The 15-strong side, led by team manager Hamdan Bujang, coach Wan Ahmad and chaperone Iziziwan Abdullah, left for Johor on Thursday.

Seventy-six teams will play with three teams from Singapore and the rest from throughout Malaysia, including three from Sarawak and Sabah.

Forty-two teams are in the U-18 category with 34 in the U-15 category. Four trophies will be up for grabs in the each category – the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Spoon.

According to Wan Ahmad, the team’s main aim is make Sarawak rugby proud, improve on their debut performance last year and go all the way in the Cup category.

Wan Ahmad, like Zulkaranainhisham in Kuching, has done a lot to promote and develop the game in schools in the Samarahan Division and both have done so without much fanfare, recognition or dues. They are working tirelessly behind the scene and without their dedication, the game will not be flourishing as it is.

Before Wan Ahmad came on the scene, it was Laurence Clement of SMK Penrissen who did his bit to promote and develop the game but due to various reasons, Laurence had handed over his mantle to Wan Ahmad.

In fact, before that, Laurence was working closely with Wan Ahmad and these three gentlemen – Wan Ahmad, Laurence and Zul – must be congratulated for their hard work, commitment and dedication to promote and develop rugby in Kuching and Samarahan. It is to their credit that local school rugby is now better known across the waters, and schools from here are getting invitations for tournaments in Semenanjung.

Kuching Politeknik is the second Sarawak team playing in the peninsula this weekend. They will be competing in the annual Inter-Politeknik 10’s in Shah Alam, and had been preparing for it over the last two months with weekly friendlies against local teams such as KRFC, Shoaw and Kolej.

Kuching Politeknik, led by Aziruddin Sahuddin and Mohd Adhar, left for Shah Alam on Thursday. They are an experienced side comprising mostly former players from Shoaw, Teknik Sejingkat and Asajaya and they do fancy their chances.

Kuching Politeknik had been quite active over the last two years since Aziruddin took up his post there. They have played friendlies quite regularly besides the various tournaments in the state and a few across the waters.

Azirudin, from Selangor, is a qualified referee and has, together with Adhar, built Kuching Politeknik into a formidable team. Everyone in Sarawak wishes both Wan Ahmad and SMK Asajaya and Aziruddin and Kuching Politeknik all the best this weekend.