Follow NGRK’s example, golf clubs told
Published on: Wednesday, January 16, 2019
KOTA KINABALU: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Frankie Poon is urging golf clubs throughout Sabah to start helping the State to develop young talented golfers following the success of the adoption programme initiated by Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai (NGRK).
He said this during the courtesy call by Sabah Golf Association (SGA) led by its president Datuk George Bandusena at his office on Monday.
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“The Ministry is very thankful to the management of Nexus Golf Resort Karambunai in their effort to support the development of junior golfers in the State, and it pleases us to see their programme has produced several potential players and my Ministry will definitely continue to give solid support to them.
“As Minister, I hope other clubs in the State will follow their (NGRK) example. You can imagine if we have one training centre located in each main town, then we could have a minimum of 50 players who have the potential to represent the State.
“As such, I would like to start this programme in Sandakan and I will discuss with the management of Sandakan Golf and Country Club (SnGCC). I believe they will be able to implement the programme successfully as well,” he said.
He also said such programmes apart from producing players, will also provide healthy competition that will further improve the standard of the players to represent Sabah in competition outside the State especially the Sukma Games.
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The support of parents to encourage their children to take up the sport so that there is a constant supply of players for the state is also needed, he added.
“I must also express my gratitude to the parents of the 10 players adopted under the programme. They have been very patience and sacrificed a lot as a result of transferring their children from Tawau and Ranau to schools here in Kota Kinabalu just to join the programme.”
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Meanwhile, NGRK Golf Operations Director Steven Cheah said they are delighted to see the programme under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for Sabahans that started four years ago has produced results.
“We are delighted to see the progress of the players under this programme. We believe the support provided is able to produce talented players who will not only be able to help the State Sukma team in the future, but also make golf as their career.”
He disclosed that 15-year-old Nabila Alifuddin, who is under the programme has won the KPM Cup circuit in Pahang in September last year and also finished sixth in the 7th Pondok Indah International Junior Open held in Indonesia, December.
The other players in the programme are Dylan Zayden Darius, Marisah Steve Madis, Jared Steve Madis, Cyqal Vozoon Felix, Ashley Johnny, Irsalina Akmadin, Shawn Lam, Yong Ke Ling and Valerie Langkab.
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