RALLYING CALL
NSAs, corporations urged to help sports school athletes
NATIONAL sports associations (NSAs) and the corporate sector should play their part to ensure that sports school students have a bright future when they graduate.
This is the call of Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) Alumni president Razmin Ramli when commenting on an NSTP report that many sports schools students ended up working as factory workers, fishermen and lorry drivers.
Razmin feels that NSAs and corporations can alleviate the problem by having national leagues involving these athletes.
Razmin said the NSAs should follow in the footsteps of the BA of Malaysia (BAM), FA of Malaysia (FAM), Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) and Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (STAM) who have formed their national leagues.
“Everyone needs to play their part to ensure there is continuity like there is in popular sports such as football, badminton, hockey and sepak takraw,” said Razmin.
“Perhaps, NSAs who have yet to set up such leagues can use the same mechanism as FAM, STAM and MHC.
“If you are going to have your own league, it will obviously incur costs and will need funding. This is where NSAs need to work together with the corporate sector.”
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik said on Tuesday his ministry is ready to work on improving sports schools together with Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahim.
“As the president (BJSS Alumni), we welcome anything which will benefit current and former students,” said Razmin.
On Tuesday, a sports school student urged the powers-that-be not to throw away their sacrifices and waste their potential.
Thousands of sports school students across Malaysia worry they face an uncertain future if they do not make it to the national teams.
Amid their sacrifices and countless hours of training at sports schools, the athletes will find it hard to get places in universities if they not do well in their acedemic studies.