KKBA to celebrate 60th anniversary
KOTA KINABALU: Kota Kinabalu Basketball Association (KKBA) will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
A celebration dinner will be held to mark the special occasion at the Port View Palace Hall, Wisma Hakka along Likas Bay near here on June 10.
Prominent leaders, generous sponsor as well as all local basketball community that include current and past committee members who have contributed to the development of the sport will be present.
KKBA chairman, Fung Chun Fatt, said several programmes have been lined up for the celebration, including down memory lane video presentation and entertainment programmes.
“The main highlight of the auspicious dinner however will be the special awards presentations. This is to show our appreciation to the recipients for their contributions throughout 60 years of the association history,” he told reporters here on Monday.
The awards are for Sponsor Recognition, Outstanding Contribution, Outstanding Achievement and Outstanding Performance.
Special Award too will be given to the title winning KKBA men's team in the SABA Cup 1968 and the women's team that won the SABA Under-18 title in 1972.
“They were the first title winners in the KKBA history,” he said while adding that invitation will also be extended to all Sabah Amateur Basketball Association (SABA) affiliates.
“Those who attend the dinner will also be receiving a specially ordered medal to commemorate the anniversary celebration,” he said.
The limited edition souvenir consist of a three gold-coloured medal, where one can collect through participating in the dinner, the Spritzer Eagle Fun Run on June 10 morning and the KKBA 3x3 basketball competition on June 30-July 1.
Towards this end, Fung said, KKBA hopes to raise funds through the publication of a magazine that will document all the important and historical events throughout KKBA's 60 years journey.
“KKBA hopes to obtain full support from the public to contribute by sponsoring an advertisement in the magazine,” he said.
Based on historical records, KKBA was formed in 1958 under the name Jesselton Basketball Association by a group of enthusiasts. In 1963, the club was officially registered under the Registrar of Societies (RoS) going by the name that it is known to this day, KKBA.
Among the major achievements of KKBA included organising world qualifying rounds for women's championship, Olympics qualifying rounds as well as international, national and state level tournaments.
KKBA basketball teams also emerged as champions in many statewide championships, including in their unbeaten march to winning all nine state titles in 2011.
In 2014, KKBA again was the all-round champions while adding the Borneo Cup title and that year KKBA was also voted as the Best Sports Association at the Sabah Sports Award in the same year.
For further information on the dinner, please contact Fung at 016-8300989 or KKBA secretary Teo Lip Ching (0168455212), Ng Yi Jun for Fun Run (016-8374397) and Frankie Ng for 3x3 competition (0168300014).