KUCHING: Murum Football Club (FC) clinched second placing at the ‘Kejohanan Bola Sepak Luar Bandar Bahagian Bintulu’ in Bintulu recently. The team, made up of 16 Penan youths from the Murum Resettlement Area, finished strong against seven other teams from Bintulu, Murum, Samalaju and Sebauh, all vying for the YB Dato’ Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom Cup.
The other teams are Kickalop, Samalaju FC, Akademi Kemena, SMK Bintulu, Sibuti Bavarian, Lakin FC and Belia Bersatu Tatau. Murum FC’s player Ritchie Siang was also awarded ‘Best Player’.
This is the team’s first official away game. The tournament, supported by Sarawak Energy in collaboration with Bintulu Football Association (BIFA) and LEA Sports Centre, aims to develop the interest for the sport among the youths as well as to uncover new talents. Kickalop emerged as champions while third place went to Samalaju FC.
Present at the trophy and medal presentation ceremony were Minister for Utilities, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports, Datuk Snowdon Lawan, Samalaju Assemblyman, Majang Renggie and BIFA President, Duke Janteng,.
Commenting on Murum FC’s performance, Sarawak Energy Assistant General Manager for Corporate Social Responsibility, Jiwari Abdullah, said, “We are very pleased with the spirit and sportsmanship displayed by the youths in Murum FC and their performance in the game was very encouraging, showing great potential.
“Creating opportunities for success and growth for our project affected communities is one of our main focuses under our CSR initiatives and we hope to continue to develop the skills and talents of the youths in Murum and build value for them.”
Following this tournament, ten players from Murum FC have been selected to participate in the Sarawak Cup (Kejohanan Piala Sarawak) in November at Mukah which will further expose them to new challenges and experiences in the football game. It is also held to search for rural young talent in football to be potentially absorbed in either one of three major State’s teams namely the National Youth Cup, President Cup and Sarawak Football Team.
The tournament was the culmination to a football workshop which began in May which teaches basic football techniques and skills trainings such as dribbling, passing, heading and goalkeeping. The workshop conducted by BIFA, promotes football among youths in the rural areas. The first phase of selection from the workshop was held between May 11 to 13 where 22 football teams from Murum, Bakun and Sungai Asap played against each other at Long Wat, Murum and SMK Bakun, Sg Asap.
