SportExcel running on empty

25/12/1998

SPORTEXCEL, founded in 1991 for promoting grassroots development, is being
slowly bled to death.
In the words of SportExcel executive director Teng Mui Ngee: "We have
started digging into our fixed deposits to run the show, which means we
will not last long."
Bowler Shalin Zulkilfi, squash star Ong Beng Hee and Asian Games
champion Nicol David, the entire Putra Cup golf squad, and cricket
sensation Arul Suppiah are some of the SportExcel graduates.
"SportExcel are low on funds and unless we can raise some money fast,
the development of junior programmes and athletes next year will be
drastically reduced."
The economic downturn has forced major sponsors to pull out, and if this
trend continues, there will only be enough money to pay for overheads.
"The junior circuits will go on but the associations will have to
sacrifice a bit, like supporting payments for travelling allowances, for
food and even reducing prize monies for events."
SportExcel, the brainchild of Olympic Council of Malaysia president
Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar, was designed to promote youth development and
one of their most successful circuit is golf. But the list is longer and
it goes back to the days of cyclist M. Kumaresan and hurdler Nurherman
Majid who have, at one time or another, contributed medals at
international meets.
SportExcel have existed remarkably well alongside the national sport
associations and even earned praise from the National Sports Council and
OCM.
Cricket and athletics were the latest to join the SportExcel family this
year while the established circuits are bowling, squash, diving, cycling,
shooting and golf.
"Although we will be running on a shoe-string budget, we have plans to
increase the air-gun circuit to three legs with a grand final at the
Subang Shooting Range.
"Also, we have plans to run a swimming and synchronised swimming circuit
next year. But it all depends on how much money is available in our
coffers.
"As for the golf circuits, they are quite independent because we have
individual sponsors for each of the five legs."
SportExcel should not just rely on the sponsors to run the circuits but
tap into those who have graduated into the senior ranks to keep the
foundation moving.
Not that these athletes should be asked to contribute in cash but an
alumni should be formed so that the athletes, some of whom are world
class, could pay back by imparting their knowledge of the sport and coach
the juniors after they have stopped competing.
Kudos to SportExcel for their unwavering pursuit of youth development in
1998.
(END)