Sarawak Football: Rome Not Built In A Day

BY JEREMY VENO, easterntimes.

KUCHING: The five-year football development plan which is being spearheaded by the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS), has the long term objective of producing top-notched local players to revive the glory days of Sarawak football.

The initiative is going to start full swing this year, up till 2015 where a meticulous development plan being drawn to cover the whole of Sarawak.

According to a spokesperson from MSNS, the development initiative is still in its infancy stage, where the proposal for the programme made on June 12, 2009 had just been given the green light from the State government.

The good news of the approval also came with a financial boost of RM1.5 million per year allocation by the State government to MSNS for executing the five-year programme, which will see the council will working very closely with the State Education Department.

“These schools are important assets to us. They are the ones supplying us the huge pool of players and coaches and we can also save money on the facilities as the schools can make use of their own football fields for training and competitions,” he said.

Commentary On The Sorry State Of Sarawak’s SUKMA Football

KUCHING: The recent announcement of the launching of the Football Development project after a year’s delay and thousands of ringgit in grant must be music to the ears of success-starved Sarawak football fans.

If the report by a local newspaper that former Sarawak legendary coach Alan Vest will be the director of coaching is correct, Sarawak football shall have a strong SUKMA squad this time. 

It may be able to enter at least the semifinals or capture the SUKMA trophy after the millions of ringgits spent.

But why Vest who is semi-retired and who has already stated that he will never hold a full-time job unless he is invited to do short courses or give a few day’s coaching clinics.

He might be a legend and well versed in development, but he will not be able to give his all. 

Big boost for state football devt - RM1.5 mln annually for five years programme

by Ting Tieng Hee, Theborneopost

KUCHING: The Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) got a big shot in the arm on Thursday when its application for funds to run a five-year football development programme was given the nod by the State Cabinet.MSNS director Francis Nyurang Ding said with the funds, the Council could proceed with implementation immediately.

“I have just been notified by the state government today that the application we submitted last year has been approved, and we will be given RM1.5 million annually for five years to run the programme,” he disclosed on Thursday.

Francis said the groundwork was, in fact, laid last year when the Council organised a course in June for 33 coaches in Miri.

Former Sarawak coach Alan Vest conducted the course with the assistance of state football development coordinator Lucas Kalang.

According to Francis, the programme was on hold for a while as the council was awaiting the government’s approval for the application.

Five-Year Plan To Produce Calibre Players

BY JEREMY VENO, Easterntimes

KUCHING: The five-year football development plan run by the Sarawak State Sports Council is seen to be the “saviour” to get Sarawak football to produce top quality players in five years.

Right from the start of the project which is first mooted by an individual ( a former FAS official) the project had seen glitches and delays.

The Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) which is under the Ministry and tasked with implementing the project is the operating arm and the agency to implement the five-year development programme.

According to an observer of Sarawak football of several decades, the project has many loopholes and non-cost effective which will drain dry the annual RM 1.5 million allocation in a jiffy.

“It is a known fact that the Education Department have their own football programmes, which is based on formality rather than for development.