Manyin encourages youths to pursue careers in sports
MIRI: Those interested in sports are encouraged to pursue the passion and moreover, they can turn it into a profession.
According to Youth, Sports and Solidarity Minister Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Sarawak is still in the competitive stage when it comes to sports.
“This means that we are not seeing sports as a career. The aim is that one day, our boys and girls will not only play the games or go for competitions, but will also take up sports as their career,” he said at the 30th Tun Sharifah Rodziah Cup Women’s Football Tournament 2017 dinner at Parkcity Everly Hotel here on Monday.
The championship – held for the first time outside Peninsular Malaysia since 1976 – kicked off on April 8 and will conclude this Saturday.
This year, 12 teams are vying for the grand title.
Adding on, Manyin added that the ministry is still identifying young talents poised to become the next generation of outstanding Sarawak athletes in various sports.
“Once our Youth and Sports Village and Sports School facilities are ready, we can actually get the best talents from across Sarawak and also the best coaches to train them towards the target of producing quality athletes in the future.
“These talented youths will be groomed into becoming our future sportsmen and sportswomen – a way for them to earn a living in the future,” he said, observing that sports tourism has also been gaining momentum in Sarawak, with the state hosting various international tournaments throughout the year.
He said sports tourism also has the potential to attract international tourists and at the same time, generate tourism dollars for the state.
Once our Youth and Sports Village and Sports School facilities are ready, we can actually get the best talents from across Sarawak and also the best coaches to train them towards the target of producing quality athletes in the future.
“These (sports) events are the reason why people come to Sarawak. I hope everybody will take this opportunity to showcase whatever we have to the visitors.”
In her remarks earlier, Football Association of Malaysia ( FAM) head of women’s development Normala Abdul Rashid lauded the efforts by the state government in accommodating the players and officials for the women’s football tournament.
“I am proud to say that this is the first time that we were ever put up in a hotel and I am very thankful for all the cooperation that has been given to us from the start.
“Sarawak is very lucky to have ministers who fully support sports development; I have the chance to see and know how seriously they are taking sports management and development here,” she said, adding FAM is currently preparing a team for the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this August.
“This ( Tun Sharifah Rodziah) Cup is the final platform for the coaches to choose players for the national SEA Games squad.”
Normala also said she was excited to see the interest of young players to be involved in the sport.
“Two weeks ago, I was here for the FIFA Grassroots Under12 meet, where more than 60 children aged 12 and below took part. This shows how much they are willing to learn more about the sport,” she said.
However, Normala believed that to develop women’s football is not an easy task, unlike men’s football.
“Extra efforts are needed to bring women’s football on par with men’s football.
“Having said this, I believe that we can bring women’s football to a higher level – this can be achieved with strong cooperation from all quarters,” she added.
The dinner also hosted Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister for Tourism Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Miri Resident Sherrina Hussaini, Pujut assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, Youth, Sports and Solidarity Ministry permanent secretary Kameri Affendi, Sarawak FA deputy president Colonel Wahab Rahim.
Dato Sri Michael Manyin, Youth, Sports and Solidarity Minister