Samarahan end seven-year itch for Under-12 rugby crown
KUCHING: Samarahan, an emerging force in primary schools rugby, are in seventh heaven after ending a seven-year wait to land their fi rst Sarawak Schools Sports Council ( MSSS) Rugby Championship Under-12 title.
In the five- team competition based on a round-robin league held at SMK Seri Setia in Kuching, the Samarahan team, who were fi rst runners-up in the inter- division meet in Mukah two years ago, beat the field to top the league on 12 points. Samarahan opened their campaign with a 10- 5 victory over Betong after which they went on to thump Serian 22-10, Sibu 32- 0 and Kuching 22- 0.
“This is an unforgettable and historic achievement for us and we have not only achieved our target of winning the championship but also realised the Samarahan District Education Office’s dream of bringing home the champion’s trophy,” said a delighted head coach Mohammad Syahril Beh when met at the Song Kheng Hai recreational ground after the prize presentation on Wednesday.
“We are very proud of the boys who have worked very hard and displayed great team work, discipline and fighting spirit during the competition from Feb 13-15,” he said.
According to Syahril, the team that comprised players from SK Bulan Jeragam and SK Tuanku Bagus in Sebuyau, SK Tungkah Melayu Sebangan; SK Empila and SK Mata Parang from Samarahan had blended well despite only having undergone a week of centralised training at SK Bulan Jeragam.
“Everybody is proud and we hope this victory will steer us to more achievements in the future,” he added.
Teachers involved in the victorious Samarahan team were team manager Hasan Jamil, his assistant Mazdar Paiman and assistant coaches Wan Zami Wan Bak, Yusrizal Ahmad and Iskandar Zulkarnain Arani.
“We would a l so l ike to acknowledge the strong support f rom Samarahan Di st r ic t Education Of fice, especial ly sports unit head David Choo Lian Sin and Semunjan District Education Office sports unit head Rosli Obeng,” added Syharil.
He was also hopeful that the Sarawak Education Department would be sending a U12 team to compete in the Malaysian Schools Sports Council ( MSSM) Rugby Championship in Perak from March 18-24.
Meanwhile, Serian fi nished as the Boys’ U12 first runners- up after collecting nine points from three wins and one loss while Kuching came in third with six points, followed by Betong with three points and Sibu were last after losing all their matches.
Kuching District Education Officer Kamariah Said closed the event and gave away the prizes to winners in the U18 and U12 categories.
Also present were Sarawak Education Department sports assistant director Munawwan Ismail, Kuching District Education Office sports unit head Yazit Belon and assistant sports coordinator Mohd Rashid Ibrahim and SMK Agama Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab principal Norlela Bujang.