Saturday April 11, 2009 Story and photos by CHARLES FERNANDEZ
THE enthusiasm shown by the 30 students of the Tunku Kurshiah Girl’s College (TKC) in Seremban during the AND1 basketball clinic revealed one positive sign - that the sport is well received by the fairer sex.
Even national women team’s head coach Tan See Wah and his assistant Yong Sye Yuin were full of praise for the students who adapted to the game after just two hours of warm-up session.
The students from Form One to Form Five, had volunteered for the basketball clinic, initiated by Ossia World of Golf, the distributors of AND1 brand in Malaysia.
Though several of them were first timers, they were quick to grasp the intricacies of the sport.
Tan and Yong, who had the services of 2007 SEA Games gold medallist Thoh Chai Ling; national players Choo Sook Pin and Nur Izzati and Elite Squad member R. Kalaimathi, put the students through a three-hour warm-up session and drills before conducting a two hour intensive training at the college.
The participants were taught the basic skills of basketball including ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting, fitness and footwork.
Tan, who is also MABA secretary-general, had a good collection of medals and accolades while assistant coach Yong was in Leipzig, Germany, for six years under a training programme, so the girls were under professional guidance and learnt only the best.
Despite the sweltering heat, the girls showed no sign of slowing down and the way they moved on the court showed they were enjoying every minute of it and did not want to stop.
“I am amazed with their commitment although for some of them, it is the first time that they had ever held a basketball.
“They can be good if they work hard and follow the techniques of the game strictly,’’ said Tan.
Fifth Former Ameenah Azman, 17, said she enjoyed the game thoroughly and had been playing the game since she started schooling in TKC while colleague Nathrah Zawawi, 14, said she first took to basketball last year.
“We have learnt why it is important to follow a strict regiment which can also be applied in our daily school life,’’ said the girls.
Like Ameenah and Natrah, all the other girls are hoping to participate in the first leg of the AND1 Streetball Challenge at the Summit USJ Subang on April 26.
“I think we have done quite well at the basketball clinic. We learnt a couple of new tricks and with a bit more training, we should be ready for the challenge,’’ said Ameenah, who is also TKC headgirl.
If the girls put up a good showing at the streetball challenge, they should thank the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development deputy minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and former old girls Zefi Efiliya Mohd Taib and Ida Borhan.
“Those were the days when TKC were one of the teams to watch out for.
“We just wanted to bring back the glory days and are glad the girls have responded positively to the programme,’’ said Zefi, a former Negri Sembilan state player.
Saifuddin whose daughter Madihah, 16, is also attending the clinic said more girls should be encouraged to take up basketball as the school has three courts to cater for their needs.
Tan and Yong, who had the services of 2007 SEA Games gold medallist Thoh Chai Ling; national players Choo Sook Pin and Nur Izzati and Elite Squad member R. Kalaimathi, put the students through a three-hour warm-up session and drills before conducting a two hour intensive training at the college.
The participants were taught the basic skills of basketball including ball handling, dribbling, passing, shooting, fitness and footwork.
Tan, who is also MABA secretary-general, had a good collection of medals and accolades while assistant coach Yong was in Leipzig, Germany, for six years under a training programme, so the girls were under professional guidance and learnt only the best.
Despite the sweltering heat, the girls showed no sign of slowing down and the way they moved on the court showed they were enjoying every minute of it and did not want to stop.
“I am amazed with their commitment although for some of them, it is the first time that they had ever held a basketball.
“They can be good if they work hard and follow the techniques of the game strictly,’’ said Tan.
Fifth Former Ameenah Azman, 17, said she enjoyed the game thoroughly and had been playing the game since she started schooling in TKC while colleague Nathrah Zawawi, 14, said she first took to basketball last year.
“We have learnt why it is important to follow a strict regiment which can also be applied in our daily school life,’’ said the girls.
Like Ameenah and Natrah, all the other girls are hoping to participate in the first leg of the AND1 Streetball Challenge at the Summit USJ Subang on April 26.
“I think we have done quite well at the basketball clinic. We learnt a couple of new tricks and with a bit more training, we should be ready for the challenge,’’ said Ameenah, who is also TKC headgirl.
If the girls put up a good showing at the streetball challenge, they should thank the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Entrepreneur and Cooperative Development deputy minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and former old girls Zefi Efiliya Mohd Taib and Ida Borhan.
“Those were the days when TKC were one of the teams to watch out for.
“We just wanted to bring back the glory days and are glad the girls have responded positively to the programme,’’ said Zefi, a former Negri Sembilan state player.
Saifuddin whose daughter Madihah, 16, is also attending the clinic said more girls should be encouraged to take up basketball as the school has three courts to cater for their needs.
