Klang’s boys and girls get rare lift
May 19, 2017
SSTMI Thunderbolt tekad julang Piala TNB
May 19, 2017
KUALA LUMPUR (7 April 2017): As the saying goes “with time and patience, the mulberry leaf is turned into satin” which best describes Tenaga Nasional Berhad’s (TNB) compulsion for the development of hockey in the country.
Not satisfied with its already recognised well-rounded hockey grassroots programme known as the Thunderbolts programme, TNB has broaden its quest to spot even more promising young talent by merging with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in an effort to net our next generation of hockey stars.
Having selected 15 schools from across the country, TNB has been handing out hockey equipment and conducting clinics for students at each school as a way of giving back to the community.
TNB’s ‘CSR tour’ kicked off last month at SMK Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir, Kepala Batas, Penang where 40 students were picked to take part in the programme before they moved to Perak where another 40 students from Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh and 70 more from Malay College Kuala Kangsar participated in the development initiative.
TNB then took its CSR programme to Johor’s SK (L) Bandar, Kluang last weekend (26 March) which coincided with the district’s launch of their own hockey programme, Kid Hockey.
Students from two other schools in Johor – SM Sains Batu Pahat and SK Kampong Melayu – joined the programme and were part of the 60 students who were gifted TNB hockey sticks, balls and goalkeeper’s gear worth RM 5,000 for each school.
Mohd Imran, one of the students who participated in the hockey clinic, was thrilled after receiving the exclusive TNB hockey equipment.
“My friends and I are very excited and grateful to TNB. We can now practice with this new equipment provided by them. This will definitely motivate us to train harder and continue learning,” said the pint-sized ten-year-old who aspires to represent Malaysia in hockey one day.
Former hockey players in TNB’s development team which includes Lailin Abu Hassan, Nor Azlan Bakar, Fairuz Ramli, Norazlan Rahim and Ahmad Farid Fuzi conducted the hockey clinic.
These experienced coaches taught the young students proper hockey techniques, skills and also stressed the importance of basic grassroots training.
Former Olympian, Lailin, who himself hails from Batu Pahat, Johor, is not surprised that many children have picked up hockey at a young age.
“This is a good move by TNB because by exposing these students to proper hockey techniques at a young age, it helps to develop their talent gradually and also fine-tunes their natural abilities,” said Lailin, who hopes TNB will continue visiting schools and conduct these clinics on a regular basis.
“TNB has done an admirable job in developing hockey in the country but it will all come to nothing if there is no continuity. The hockey scene is ever-changing and young players need to be coached in the modern way of playing the sport where tactics and speed play a huge part, especially when they have to adapt from playing on the field to the turf,” explained Lailin who is also the assistant coach of the Malaysian women’s hockey team.
The Thunderbolt blueprint includes talented players being absorbed into one of four TNB-hockey affiliated schools – Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS), Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI), Pahang Sports School (SSP-MSP) or SMK Anderson to participate in the TNB Malaysia Junior Hockey League (TNBMJHL) and eventually don TNB’s colours in the Premier league.
TNB’s goodwill gesture of delivering equipment and running coaching clinics will continue at selected schools in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah and Perak throughout the year.
