Jamit encourages footballers in Kapit to become state, national players
KAPIT: Bukit Goram assemblyman Jefferson Jamit Unyat has thrown down a challenge to football players here to go beyond Kapit to reach greater heights instead of just becoming ‘juara kampung’ (village champions).
Speaking at the prize giving ceremony for the Kapit League Cup football competition at Meligai Hotel here that was organised by Kapit Football Association ( KFA) he reminded them to think of sports as business.
“Reach for the stars instead of just becoming ‘ juara kampung. Become state or national players,” he said.
He told them to emulate the examples of Datuk Lee Chong Wei ( badminton), Datuk Nicol David ( squash) and Pandelela Rinong (swimming) who could earn big income from their respective sports because they were world class athletes.
He was glad to note that football had become popular in the division.
“I always believe youths from rural areas like Kapit have potential to become good athletes. What’s important is for KFA to tap the potential and organise regular training sessions and competitions to exploit their talent in the game,” added Jamit.
Besides him, he said other elected representatives from the division were supportive of the development of the sport in Kapit through their annual financial allocation to KFA.
Seven teams took part in the football competition which kicked off in July 2016, with the final played earlier this year.
Later, Jamit announced a government grant of RM6,000 for KFA and gave away prizes to the winners.
Mohd Suffian from Team 66 Mobile scored fifteen goals to earn the title of best scorer.
Team 66 Mobile was the champion and received RM5,000, a trophy and medals.
In second place was Team SWT Contractor which received RM3,000, a trophy and medals while Team The Young Leopards was in third place, taking home RM2,000, a trophy and medals.
In his speech, KFA chairman Kennedy Kuyang appealed to the government through the Ministry of Youths and Sports and Solidarity and Ministry of Local Government to construct more football fields in Kapit.
“Unlike futsal, a football game requires a proper field.
We have many potential young players and we have a fulltime coach. But the sad thing is we have only one football field ( Padang Terbuka) which is fully booked throughout the week. Because of the lack of fields, our youth development programmes and training sessions have been greatly hampered,” he said.
Among others present were football coach Jerry Tani, Sarawak Dayak Iban Association ( Sadia) Kapit chairman Edward Manggah, team captains and players.