It will get better after the '98 Games

05/07/1997

THE Bukit Jalil Sports School can accommodate 600 students and has about
350 under its wings now, ample space for more athletes but sadly not
enough sporting facilities.
"Right now the situation is quite cramped, we have the best student
athletes in the country under one roof but are forced to train elsewhere
because the school lacks facilities," said Ministry of Education sports
division director Ahmad Othman.
"But we hope all this will change when the curtain falls on Commonwealth
Games next year because then we will be surrounded by the best facilities
the nation can offer to develop BJSS students."
After the Games, the school will be surrounded by a hockey stadium,
indoor stadium, soccer stadium with tracks for athletics and a swimming
complex.
"The word now is that once the Games end, the facilities will be
privatised and might be beyond our reach, I hope the authorities will give
priority to BJSS students if that happens.
"Right now the students train around Kuala Lumpur and Universiti Putra
Malaysia in Serdang have been very kind to us," said Ahmad.
"The lack of facilities have also deprived us of some good athletes,
because when parents visit the school and find that we only have a multi
purpose hall and squash courts, apart from the cement hockey pitch outside
our compound, they are reluctant to their children. But all this will
change soon."
The lack of facilities has not stopped BJSS students from producing
their best.
"Last year we took part under the Bangsar Zone and BJSS students swept
most of the Inter-Zone medals so they were "kicked out" and made into a
separate zone this year. The BJSS Under-14 soccer team, who played under
the Police banner in the Nike Cup, also made the school proud when they
won gold," said Ahmad.
BJSS students undergo a spartan time-table daily. Physical activities
begin at 6.30am to 8.30am and this is followed by normal classroom
lessons. After school at 2.0 the students train under their respective
coaches. Motivational courses are sometimes held at night.
"Students based at BJSS are not only required to be good in sport, one
of the criteria for selection is academic excellence. But sometimes we do
take in an average student if they are exceptionally good in sport," said
Ahmad.
And when the Malaysian Schools Sports Council take part in their second
Malaysia Games in Selangor, they will be looking towards BJSS students to
deliver the medals. Right now BJSS caters for 12 sports: athletics,
gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, squash, swimming, archery, hockey,
netball, volleyball, football, sepaktakraw and basketball.
"There are plans to include more sports under BJSS but we will need the
help of the National Sports Council and the respective associations to
provide coaches with expertise.
"Right now only swimming, squash and archery associations provide us
with coaches, we hope more will come forward soon."
(END)