BERNAMA BAG A DELIGHTFUL DOUBLE IN HAWANA GAMES

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Despite comprising players from different departments, the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) teams showed that teamwork trumps all else as they bagged a double in the inter-media nine-a-side men's football and netball tournament in conjunction with the HAWANA Games today.

Bernama A won the nine-a-side football title when they edged Perak Media 3-2 on penalties after both teams were tied 0-0 in regulation time while Bernama Bullet clinched the netball crown with a 7-4 win over Karangkraf.

FINAS FC and Fahmi Fadzil FC finished third and fourth respectively in the football competition while MITI and Bernama Net Force ended up third and fourth respectively in netball.

Meanwhile, Bernama A skipper Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif said he was proud of his teammates as they finally brought some cheer to Bernama after a long title drought in football.

He said the team, formed after the Federal Territory Government Servants Welfare and Sports Council (MAKSWIP) football tournament in August, performed impressively and never gave up despite the tough challenges.

"We dedicate this victory to Bernama because we haven't won a football tournament for a long time,” he said after the prize-giving ceremony at the Brainy Bunch International Islamic pre-school field, Melawati Campus here today.

Meanwhile, Bernama Bullet team captain Nor Fadhilah Ibrahim is thankful that the hard work put in by the players, who trained every Monday and Thursday for the past month, paid off.

"We began training once the Bernama Netball Championship ended last month. From there, we began to rebuild our understanding because we had some new players in the team,” she said.

The Bernama Bullet team comprises players from the Editorial, Broadcasting and Corporate Affairs departments.

Meanwhile, Bernama Editor-in-Chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, who also took part in the nine-a-side football competition with the Bernama C team, was pleased to see the tournament, held for the first time, getting an encouraging response and never thought that Bernama would shine in both sports.

"Our football and netball clubs were active pre-COVID-19, but we began to get back into the groove again last year when we organised many friendlies. We will continue organising sports events as often as possible,” he said. 

The tournament, officiated by Bernama Chief Executive Officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and also attended by Bernama Deputy Editor-in-Chief (News Service) Nasriah Darus, saw 17 teams competing in the men's nine-a-side football and nine teams in netball.

The winner of the nine-a-side football tournament took home RM3,000, medals and a trophy, followed by second place (RM2,000 and medals); third place (RM1,000 and medals); and fourth place (RM800 and medals).

The netball winning team pocketed RM2,000, medals and a trophy, followed by second place (RM1,000 and medals); third place (RM500 and medals); and fourth place (RM400 and medals).

The National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA), first celebrated on April 11, 2018, aims to appreciate and value the sacrifices and contributions of the media community as well as enhance the level of professionalism among media practitioners in the country, in addition to becoming a platform for them to come together and discuss current issues faced by the media industry. 

-- BERNAMA