07/06/2025

SATURDAY | JUNE 7, 2025

COMMUNITY 7

Football clinic for Seremban schoolboys kicks off o Sang Kancil Football Club aims to develop youngsters’ skills and team spirit

Ű BY R. ANBALAGAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KOTA KINABALU: More than 1,000 residents of Kampung Takutan and Kampung Tamalang in Ranau district can now enjoy clean water and sanitation following an initiative under the Rotary Clean Water Supply and Sanitation Project. The inauguration ceremonies for the installations were officiated by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, who is also state assemblyman for local constituency Kundasang, on May 21. According to Joachim, the two villages, located about 100 km from Kota Kinabalu, are among 38 across Sabah that have benefited since the project started in 2019. Joachim stated that 16 installations have been completed in Ranau alone, benefiting 7,649 residents from 1,658 families. An additional ten installations will be implemented in the district this year. He congratulated the residents of Kampung Takutan and Kampung Tamalang for their cooperation in successfully completing the gravity fed pipe installation project. He expressed hope that the villagers will continue to work together in performing regular maintenance to ensure the facilities SEREMBAN: Young footballers from schools in Seremban are being groomed with proper skills by veterans with years of experience in the sport under the new Sang Kancil Football Club. The players who are below the age of 12 years hail from low income families. They are being given exposure to perform at the sport in a more professional manner while being equipped with the necessary talents. Convener of the football clinic, Manvir Victor, explained that the club is under the Pusat Bakti Madani initiated by Francis Xavier, a former student of St Paul’s Institution here. Manvir added that Xavier, who is chairman of Pusat Bakti Madani, is a successful lawyer now based in Singapore who wanted to have a sports programme and contribute to the development of football in his home state of Negri Sembilan. “Xavier has also gotten some of his colleagues in Singapore to contribute financially to run this programme for children from the B40 segment. “Initially he wanted to start a community project, so he decided to start a sports programme and set up the football clinic,” Manvir said. “The children from B40 groups hail from different backgrounds. Bringing them to play football also encourages them to be active in outdoor recreation.” There are currently two coaches who guide the players in two-hour sessions every Thursday and Saturday. “There is too much focus on academics and we need to expose them to outdoor activities like football,” Manvir added. “Football can make them fitter Ű BY JOSHUA CHANG newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Players in training at SJK(C) Kampung Seri Sikamat. – R. ANBALAGAN/THESUN

and healthier. It also helps build up team spirit among players.” The first team to be formed after the current training will be the under-12 and their first friendly match will be with the St. Paul’s

primary school team next month. Jerseys and other necessary items like kits for the players will be acquired with help from contributors. “The present football clinic is

held in Sikamat and we will be starting another one in central Seremban town. We are trying to partner with schools to train their students while using their facilities to run the football clinics.”

Manvir, who was part of a group that organised a national junior football league from 2008 to 2012, said Xavier has a dream to even set up a football academy at a later stage.

Water supply project benefits over 1,000 villagers in Ranau

JCI Sandakan donates proceeds to Cheshire Home Chang (4th left) and the JCI team present a mock cheque to Chiu (centre), witnessed by Tang (5th left).

KOTA KINABALU: Upholding the spirit of “from the community, for the community,“ Junior Chamber International (JCI) Sandakan officially handed over RM8,000 in net surplus from the 2024 Sandakan Food Festival to Sabah Cheshire Home Sandakan recently. The donation, received by the home’s representative Dora Chiu, will support its daily operations. The ceremony was witnessed by the Sandakan MP’s special affairs officer Tang Szu Ching. This marks the second consecutive year that JCI Sandakan has donated from its signature food festival to the

home.

Organising

chairperson

Michael Kei emphasised that the success reflects community solidarity with focus on supporting vulnerable groups as the core mission. Meanwhile, this year’s edition of the Sandakan Food Carnival will be held from June 27 to 29 at the Sandakan Sports Complex. The highlights include a lion dance competition, featuring top teams from East Malaysia, a food bazaar showcasing local delicacies and cultural exhibitions of handicrafts and eco-friendly wares. – BY JOSHUA CHANG Chang Yam

Joachim (3rd right) and other guests turning on a tap when officiating at the Rotary project in Kampung Tamalang.

remain functional in the long term. Joachim also conveyed his gratitude to the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu Pearl and the installations’ main sponsors, Brad and Marsha Douglas from the Malaysian Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Meanwhile, the club’s president Chenderamata Sinteh said they remain committed to assisting and supporting local leaders in planning and executing such projects that greatly benefit local communities.

Chenderamata also thanked the villagers for their strong cooperation throughout the implementation process for the facilities. The inauguration ceremonies, held at two separate locations, were also attended by local government officials and village leaders, residents of the two villages, Rotary Project chairman cum immediate past president Datuk Suzannah Liaw and members of the Rotary Club of Likas Bay.