JEFRI'S LENS: COMMUNITY-BASED CLUBS KEY TO SPORTS REFORM

The final instalment of a four-part special series titled ‘Jefri’s Lens’ highlights the aspiration of National Sports Council director-general Jefri Ngadirin, who hopes to see community-based clubs flourish and in turn spark reform within the national sports ecosystem.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- Beyond the cheers in stadiums, international tournaments and athletes’ victories, lies a dimension that often escapes public attention — the grassroots foundation of the nation’s sports ecosystem.

Many tend to celebrate success on the big stage, overlooking the fact that true sporting development begins much earlier, at the community level.

In this context, community-based clubs are seen as a vital component, though their role is often underestimated.

National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Jefri Ngadirin, who envisions the rapid growth of community-based sports clubs, believes the initiative is not merely about providing space for sports activities.

“When these community-level clubs are established, they reduce dependency on the government and can obtain funding from membership fees. This, in turn, will further stimulate sports development at the grassroots and eventually translate into more athletes being produced for high performance,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview recently.

Jefri noted that the community club model was not new in countries that excel on the global sporting stage, such as Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

He cited positive developments in Malaysia, where besides football, several other sports has also seen active club participation, including hockey, athletics, swimming, tenpin bowling and martial arts.

He pointed to the success of the Rayzam Shah Athletics Club in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah — founded by former national hurdler Rayzam Shah Wan Sofian — which has managed to organise events attracting thousands of participants.

“If every sport has thriving grassroots clubs, it will reduce the burden of development at the lower level. That way, we can focus on performance, while the clubs themselves handle grassroots development,” he said.

The community-based club concept aligns with current needs, as many sports associations in Malaysia still rely heavily on government allocations and support from national sports agencies.

The community club model not only allows for more sustainable financing but also opens doors to private sponsorships and active grassroots participation.

With a strong club system, grassroots development will be driven by the community itself, allowing the NSC and national sports associations to focus on high-performance aspects.

Jefri also emphasised that national sports development should not rely solely on allocations, but must be supported by good governance at the association level.

“Associations often say funding is insufficient, but if they continue to argue over leadership, lack good governance, and remain mired in internal issues, it will hinder overall sports development,” he said.

“At the NSC, we always try to help associations with more allocations, but our experience shows that more funding cannot be translated into performance if the associations themselves remain disorganised,” he added.

Jefri was appointed as the 10th Director-General of the National Sports Council on April 4 this year.

He began his career at the NSC’s Development Division in 1993 before pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Miami, Florida, the United States, and returned to serve at the NSC in 1999.

Among the positions he has held are Head of the Core Sports Unit, Director of the Talent Development Division, and Director of the Athletes Division, before being promoted to Deputy Director-General (Sports Development) on Jan 8, 2024.

-- BERNAMA