PSM PRESIDENT PREFERS SETTING UP OF TAKRAW ACADEMY THAN STADIUM

PETALING JAYA, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) president Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan is ready to consider setting up a sepak takraw academy instead of owning a stadium.

With the establishment of the academy, he said PSM would be able to find new talent to be groomed to take over from the seniors in the national team.

"We are still in discussion to identify what are the criteria for the stadium, whether it is to be used for tournaments, training or an academy centre.

"I'm more inclined towards the establishment of an infrastructure for a national sepak takraw academy. If we do not get a stadium, that's fine because there (academy) we can produce more new talent,” he said.

He told reporters this during the third series of the Sepak Takraw Basic Training Clinic (KLAS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan Taman Dato Harun (2) here today.

Mohd Sumali had previously said that they planned to own a stadium, identifying several locations around the Klang Valley.

Meanwhile, he admitted to being thrilled with the encouraging response of not only the primary pupils and secondary students but also their parents to KLAS, which began last month.

Following the encouraging response, Mohd Sumali said they should continue holding KLAS to cultivate interest in sepak takraw among schoolchildren.

Twelve-year-old Mohd Qais Iman Shamsul was excited about participating in the KLAS, including learning the proper techniques of the game from former national players.

He said this has inspired him to one day play for the national team.

The third series of the KLAS today brought together 108 primary school pupils and secondary students, who had the opportunity to learn basic techniques of sepak takraw, with national 'killer’ Mohd Futra Abdul Ghani adding a personal touch to the programme as one of the instructors.

-- BERNAMA