Youngster Khairol aims to play in volleyball pro league
PETALING JAYA: Teenage volleyball player Khairol Shazrime Shamsaimon is a small man with big dreams. He wants to play in the pro league.
He is the youngest – at 16 – and shortest – at 1.74m (5ft 7in) – among the 15 volleyball trainees for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August.
It was only last year that the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) student made his international debut with the senior team at the Asian Club Championships in Myanmar.
“I know the game is big out there. I am prepared to work my way up slowly,” said Khairol, whose father Shamsaimon Mohd Sharit is the assistant coach of the national team.
Khairol was five years old when he began to follow his dad for training and his interest grew from there.
It was national coach Tay Yeu Siong who spotted Khairol at the Sarawak Sukma last year. Khairol played a pivotal role in guiding Selangor to the gold medal.
Shamsaimon said he did not have to do much as Khairol picked up the game fast on his own.
“He learned from the seniors, watching them in training. Slowly, over the years, he became a part of the national team. The seniors used to ‘bully’ him but that has made him a better player now.
“An official from a Pakistan club was impressed with Khairol’s potential. He saw him play in the Asian Under-23 Championship in Iran last month.
“He asked if I would allow him to play for them but I turned down the offer because of his age.
“But I know he will turn pro one day,” said Shamsaimon.
Malaysia have only won a silver – at KL 2001 – since volleyball was included in the SEA Games in 1977.
And Shamsaimon wants the team to go one better at the home Games in August.
“I remember that Khairol was only 10 months old in 2001. My wife Azlina was in the stands with him at the KL Badminton Stadium in Cheras for the volleyball final. We lost to Thailand (3-0).
“This time, I hope Khairol will be there as a player in the final,” he said.