It will no longer be the same, says SVA chief
Spikers braced for new normal in training, eye gold at Sukma
SIBU: State volleyball players will have to embrace the new normal when they return to training in preparation for the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Johor next year.
Sibu Volleyball Association (SVA) president Dr William Ting Wei Ung said this could apply to all the officials, coaches, players and those who are involved in the training.
“At the moment, we are still uncertain when training will actually commence.
“However, whether it is going to start in August or September, one thing is certain - it will no longer be the same as before,” he said.
Ting said all the stakeholders would have to follow the government’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) when conducting training to help contain the spread of Covid-19.
“Yes, we are entering a new era. Everyone must adhere to the SOPs, including having their body temperature taken, practice social distancing, wearing face masks and using hand sanitiser regularly before and after the training,” he said.
However, volleyball is a contact sport and Ting admitted it could be difficult in certain areas such as the social distancing, which he described as ‘difficult to avoid’ during training.
“The players therefore must exercise greater self-discipline and moral responsibilities to ensure that they are fit and healthy before taking part in any training programmes,” he added.
Nevertheless, Ting said SVA is in no hurry to conduct the training as the country is still under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) until June 9.
“We still have to wait for instructions from the National Security Council and the Ministry of Health before we can start planning the programmes and other itinerary.”
For the past two months, Ting said the players have been training individually due to the restrictions.
“We need to get them (to train) together to build their strength, muscles and stamina and also ball coordination. They may need a few weeks to gel.”
Sarawak, Ting reiterated, is the powerhouse for volleyball and a regular podium finishers in Sukma.
In the 2016 Sukma Sarawak, playing on home ground at Sibu Volleyball Stadium at Rejang Park, Sarawak came agonisingly close to lift both the men’s and women’s titles before ending up with two silver medals.
“It was a heart breaking moment but we lost to the better teams. We are determined to make amends and we are eyeing for both the gold medals in Johor Sukma, nothing less.”
For the record, Selangor took the men’s gold medal while Johor garnered the women’s gold medal in 2016.
Volleyball was not competed in the 2018 Sukma Perak.
Meanwhile, Ting said they have planned to send the state volleyball squad for international exposure in Thailand and Taiwan to gain match experience and other technical aspects of the game.
“Unfortunately, it has been called off due to the Covid-9 pandemic which is wreaking havoc around the globe.”