READY TO ‘BEG’ FOR MONEY

MSBF need funds to send players to Sea Games

THE Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) will have no choice but to beg for assistance if cue sports is classified under category B (self-funded) for the Philippines Sea Games on Nov 30Dec 11.

Cue sports is likely to come under category B as the national cueists have only competed in one tournament (Singapore Open) in the last 12 months, coupled by their failure to win gold medals at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.

With a zero bank balance, MSBF will need to look for private sponsors and also trim down their Sea Games-bound squad from 10 players to six or seven.

The federation will also appeal for funds from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).

OCM have a trust fund, managed by their trust management committee.

The trust fund is for athletes, coaches and National Sports Associations (NSAs) who have contributed significantly in sports.

“I will appeal to OCM in regard to channelling money from their trust fund for the purpose of sending our athletes to the Sea Games. I will do so in the council’s next selection meeting,” MSBF president Melvin Chia told NST Sport yesterday.

“However, I am also going to look for private sponsors. If the sport is categorised under B then I will have no choice but to look at these avenues to raise funds as our bank account has dried up.”

Melvin also questioned the decision to channel RM750,000 to eSports in view that some sports who have produced results have not received support from the government this year.

“I am not angry but puzzled because funding for most sports have been slashed while others have not received anything. As for us, we have no funding to restart our development programme,” he said.

Melvin disclosed that representatives of the National Sports Council (NSC) will view the snooker club in Bandar Sunway, which will be converted into a national training centre for the Sea Games, today.

“They will survey the club before looking into other details like rental and equipment,” he said.

MSBF will also make a request to NSC to rehire former national coach Mike Russell to handle the Sea Games squad.