MNA must follow the AIS way to success

23/07/1997

THE National Schools Netball championship in Kuala Terengganu on May 22
saw 39 teams from 13 States participating.
Negri Sembilan were in a class of their own in the tournament held at
the Sultan Sulaiman Secondary School, winning both the Under-15 and Under-
18 titles.
In the Under-12 category, Selangor upset defending champions Negri in
the semifinals 32-34 and then went on to beat Johor 30-23 for the title.
Negri finished third with a 51-12 win over Sarawak.
There is no doubt that schools netball is alive but at the state and
national levels, the sport takes a back seat to many others.
Malaysia were the Asian champions in 1985 and finished fourth three
years ago but there has been a slide since.
For the first time since the inception of the Commonwealth Games,
netball will make its debut along with team sports cricket, rugby and
hockey.
"The first challenge for the national netball team will be the Asian
Championship on Sept 2-7 in Singapore. We must win to redeem our pride,"
Malaysian Netball Association (MNA) president Norminshah Sabirin remarked.
Easier said than done. Netball is at the infant stages in Malaysia and
there is much work to be done if we want to catch up with giants like
Australia and New Zealand.
Work to train world beaters began at the Australian Institute of Sport
(AIS) 15 years ago.
At the first World Cup in 1988 in Canberra, Australia won the title with
the help of nine AIS players.
In 1992 in Fiji, Australia lost the title to New Zealand but regained it
in 1996 in Canada.
When the AIS was founded in 1981, netball was one of the eight sports
selected. The programme helps elite level athletes reach their potential
and full-time residential scholarships at the AIS are awarded anually.
Selections are based on the level of excellence at schools and begins
with the Under-17 and Under-19 players.
All athletes are expected to study or work as well as train and compete
actively.
Due to an excellent development programme, Australia won the World
Championships seven times - in 1963, 71, 75, 79, 83, 91, and 95.
Seven former AIS scholarship holders also helped Australia win the 1990
Commonwealth Games gold in Auckland.
The MNA have their own development programmes, but they have not been
active at schools level: "We do conduct coaching clinics and seminars when
invited. Coaches are sent to schools but not on a regular basis," added
Norminshah.
"If the Malaysian Schools Sports Council need our help all they have to
do is ask. We are more than willing to provide the expertise."
(END)