ANOTHER non governmental organisation has jumped onto the wagon to develop football at the grassroots.
Penang Sports Club (PSC), who were more into veteran sports especially cricket, hockey and football, have now turned their focus on developing sports for the juniors.
PSC football captain Dr Kalaikumar Nachi said after a brain storming session among the club’s football section members, they decided to start a junior development programme.
He said their focus will be on children — boys and girls — in the Under-8, Under-10 and Under-12 age-groups.
The programme is open to members’ children and also those staying around the club, with kids who are staying far also welcome to participate.
“Our whole idea is to address the deterioration of the sport which is the most loved and well recognised in the world. The irony is that many children learn of countries through football.
“Language is no barrier for them when it comes to football. That is the uniqueness of football,” said Dr Kalaikumar after watching the first session of the junior development programme at the PSC ground in Jalan Utama recently.
Dr Kalaikumar said although PSC was a private membership club, it is open to all when it comes to sports.
Meanwhile, programme coordinator Vijayendra Samarasen was pleasantly surprised with the overwhelming response as they had not expected more than 30 children, but 50, including five girls, registered.
He said the children had to pay a registration fee of RM150 each, for which they received two sets of jerseys, shorts and socks and include the training fee for two months.
“Our main mission is to develop as many kids as possible in the Under-12 age-group as we believe after that, they will be well taken care off in the secondary school.”
Vijayendra, who holds a B licence coaching certificate, said ex-international C. Nadarajan drew up the development programme and will oversee training.
He said training will be conducted by S. Gobiraj, Rosidi Salleh, K. Ramajayam, R. Veloo and himself with the assistance of four PSC footballers.
He said all the coaches are Asian Football Confederation (AFC) B Licence certificate holders.