13/11/1997
SELANGOR Science Secondary (SMS) had 17 players in the Kuala Lumpur team
which won the National Schools title in Kelantan this year.
A Selangor school playing for Kuala Lumpur? That is exactly what
happened when Federal Territory became Kuala Lumpur and expanded its
borders.
With the victory, SMS are undoubtedly the top rugby school in Malaysia
and they owe it to a solid development programme.
"We started 24 years ago when the school was established," said SMS Old
Boy and chief coach Raja Idris Raja Ali.
While rugby in Perak, once a powerhouse, died of natural death due to
poor planning, SMS rose from the ranks and have won numerous district
tournaments, including the Under-18 10s Invitational early this year.
"We have three full-time coaches for rugby. I coach the Under-18 side
and two other teachers, who are undergoing a Malaysian Rugby Union (MRU)
coaching clinic in Universiti Putra Malaysia, handle the Under-15 team."
The divide-and-coach system has paid off because the 1995 Under-15 side
which won the MRU-Milo-MSSC International 10s graduated to a strong Under-
18 team which hammered Johor 47-6 in the final.
"Training is a daily affair. The students take to the field at 3pm and
work on building their stamina and when there is a tournament we
concentrate on skills and strategy," added Raja Idris.
It is much easier for the students to attend training because most of
them stay in the hostel."
"In May we received an invitation from the Vajiravudh College in
Thailand to play at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar (MCKK) grounds.
Although it was an Under-21 side, we took up the offer and received a few
hard knocks but returned wiser," said Raja Idris.
Malay College have an annual match against the Thais but this year they
decided to take on SMS due to their growing popularity. SMS also took part
in the Singapore Blacks 10s for exposure.
"We have plans to take part in more tournaments next year, it all
depends on our budget."
While the Under-18 and Under-15 sides are busy with the schools
calendar, their Under-16 side are playing in the Selangor League in
Division Three, the only school team in the country to do so, and are
sitting pretty at the top of the table.
SMS representatives in the National Schools championship: Nor Hazmin
Chamli (Capt), Mohamed Ali, Razif Ramli, Safian Muda, Zamri Omar, Zawai
Mamat, Azhir Ekmal, Zulkeflee Yusof, Shahruddin Ahmad, Kamarul Azlan,
Rumaizi Salim, Nasaruddin Kipain, Mohamed Raipi, Shahriman Samdin, Ahmad
Fadzli, Azhar Zainudin, Abdul Hadi Ismail.
(END)
