Foul!

Schools sports have always been close to my heart. I started my career in journalism by covering school-level tournaments before graduating to the senior level - a luxury not many journalists have today as most seem to immediately cover the major stuff. I remember writing about Kevinder Singh during his days with Royal Military College. Some made it beyond the schools level. Most simply disappeared from the scene. I also remember doing my Basic Sports Administration Course under the International Olympic Council together with Education Ministry sports unit head Ee Hong. She was just placed into the hot seat then and wanted to educate herself further in sports. Such an attitude ought to be applauded. Then we have Education Minister Muhyiddin Yassin trying to leave a legacy by introducing the 1Student 1Sport programme. Noble as it may sound, the reality is that students in the 80s and 90s grew up with the requirement of having to take up at least 1 sport, 1 uniformed body and 1 club / so...

According to the recently launched official website , it is July 5-14, 2012. But the Education Ministry (MoE) has not been informed of the dates. The National Sports Council (NSC) claim the dates are not confirmed. Aik? It is a problem to hold Sukma early July as it clashes with the 4th Asean Schools Games meet in Indonesia. And MoE has made it very clear they want their best student athletes representing the country. Word has it that the state sports councils are pissed while folks in MoE are not amused. Wouldn't all this be avoided if there was proper planning by all the parties concerned - including the Higher Education Ministry (for availability of university facilities). The uncertainty will also disrupt the 2012 calender for the National Sports Associations. Read the Sukma Dilemma in today's Mailsport. HD says: Dilemma aside I must state on record my appreciation to NSC director of sports Abdul Jalil Abdullah for his time earlier. He certainly sets a better example comp...