Experience that matters the most!

Our new logo

It's good to be back writing in this blog. We had a friendly match yesterday with SMK Lembah Bidong. I almost canceled the game due to transportation problem. Luckily, with the help of Cikgu Fazli things went well and the problem was solved. Thanks again for your help, I really appreciate that. The main purpose of that game was actually to evaluate the new form four player whom had been practicing since last month. To my surprise, they amazed me. I was glad in a way that I could rest my form three players because they were having exams. Congratulation boys! It is the motivation for me to keep polishing your talent and skills. I just need more games to develop these boys and give them more experience. The next tournament is just around the corner.

Rising All Blacks star

My day started with a happy message from my sister who is now in New Zealand. She just bought me an All Blacks jersey and a tie! I just can't wait to wear them. For a true All Blacks fan like me it is really something. My idol player is always Jonah Lomu. I always love his strength and courage when he played.


Sure hope you guys enjoy this clip !

Old Skool and New skool, Stay Cool, Stay in School

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my greatest pleasure to present you my former school, Clifford school Kuala Kangsar. Not many people know nor heard about this school especially outside of Perak. Well today I shall tell you all about my 'old skool'. I guess this is where everything started for me. This is where Rugby makes its mark in my life and it has changed me entirely. Clifford school is the oldest school in Kuala Langsar. Some people taught that Malay Collage Kuala Kangsar was the oldest, well, they were wrong all the way. Clifford school was established in 1897 while MCKK was established in 1905. Our tradition goes along way back in the times of the British colonials. Those days, the royals and the aristocrat went to this school for education before MCKK was founded. Names like Hamdan Syeikh Tahir, Tun Sambathan, Raja Mohar Badiozzaman and Rafidah Aziz were among the outstanding few. There are more to be mentioned. As the post independence generation, I am very proud to be a Cliffordian. Even though we were not as glamourous and as prestigious as the MCKK, we are proud at the standard of our own.

I've left Kuala Kangsar for almost fourteen years, all my memories are still fresh in my mind. I've been a kampung boy and I still am. The only thing that made me feel sad going back to Kuala Kangsar is the big empty house of my grandparents. It is still very hard for me to let go of the feeling since I was not there when when they passed away. That will always a part of me that lives forever 'the presence of my grandparents' because I never saw the 'go'.

My class was right next to the foyer on the right

"The Ship is more than the crew" is the motto of the school signifies the highest regards and importance is given to the school. As written on the walls of Dewan Hamdan the school hall, "Once a Cliffordian always be a Cliffordian". I guess I have never really left school and that is why I am destined to be a teacher.

"The Ship is more than the crew"

A different perspective of a teacher

I'm to get good respond from my reader about this blog. Even though, the focus of this blog is about rugby but I try to make it more reader friendly with more open topic of interest. So today I decide to talk about "being a teacher". I always believe that a teacher should always be versatile then only he or she can feel the joy of being in this wonderful profession.
A teacher in my wife's school complained indirectly to her because she had to leave class for choral speaking rehearsal for the National Teacher's Day Celebration in May. I just couldn't understand why such teacher never understood the roles that she is playing. Juggling with her classes, papers to be marked and also family I think she deserved some respect and not complains. I bet if that teacher were to be in my wife's shoes she would not stand a session of the training. As a teacher myself I wear many hats, as referees, coach, driver, maid and so on (you name it) I never regretted that I have chosen this profession. I admit that I have left a few classes with the students but I never left them empty. There is always work to be done and there is always new skills to be learned. Sometimes people think that leaving school for other things is easy, one thing they do not know is that we have to make up classes and double the work of the teachers who stayed in school all their teaching career.

Kampung Kedah near Mahsuri's well

Meeting the challenges of the new millennium, teachers need to be more proactive and reliable. Students may not see their teachers as role model but if we can earn their respect you can be their idol. As a coach, I want my rugby players to look at me as their mentor. Teaching my students to play rugby is not all about winning. I want them to be a fully developed individual. I want them to have a strong character and highly disciplined. Above all that I want them to be true gentlemen.

Teachers' Debate 2007

I'm glad I have chosen this profession and I am proud to be an extraordinary kind of teacher. To all the teachers out there, I salute all of you because you are the backbone of our society.

An evening in Likas 2006

There is nothing left to loose!

Me and my sifu Tn Hj Shahrir

"Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift, that is why it is called a present" The words of master Oogway in the movie kung fu panda. I find these words are inspiring. I can never alter the past, I know not what challenges lies ahead however, if I could do something now I'll be more prepared in the future. It's been ten years since I got involved with MSSM rugby plus those old skool days. I've met a lot of people and learn new experience. I always admire the charisma of my sifu as a coach and a teacher, he never give up hope on his students. Even though our school team back then was not as good as the MCKK's but we trained hard and we fought bravely. I think in my capacity now I can do more.

This year's line up for SBP tens remain a secret. Since the under 15 team is made up of form three students I need to give them some room to focus on PMR. As an alternative to that I will have to take some form four students to be in the line up. I'm still looking for form one students to play for the under 15 team. Some of them who had attended the trainings earlier on withdrew form the team due to parents' restriction. I was quite dissapointed a little bit because parents are still skeptical about the rugby. From my experience, I have seen a lot of potential in the students being develop through this game. One is developing students physical strength and ability. Two is developing high capacity of thinking and intelligence. When these two combined, you'll have a fully develop individual. Maybe the nature of this game is rough and aggressive but it make a real gentlemen out of hooligans. I remembered my former school mate Saiful Bahari, he was quite a 'gangster' in school. When he joined the school's rugby team he changed totally to a better person and most suprisingly he was selected to play for the national team in 1993. He is now a medical assistant in Hospital Grik.



My sifu has done a great job for making me who I am now and I thanked him for that. It is my time now for my school. Hope is the thing with feathers, if you believe in it you can fly!

It's time to relax and reflect!

This year's rugby events started earlier than I expected. MSSKTU, MSST and Liga terengganu were conducted simultaneously. Not having enough time to train the students I had to resort to my under 15 team since they played U15 game last year. Even though we lost all the games, I hoped that the boys gained experience and it helped to built their confidence in the game. Being a referee myself, I referee more than I did coaching. MSSM 2009 took place in Malacca and it had taken all my holiday. Pity my wife and kids because they didn't get to enjoy the holiday with me. Anyway, that's life as a referee. Now that all the tournament started to slow down a little bit, it's time for me to catch up with them.

Mus, Pak Din, Me and Jefidin on our last assignment
game Perak Vs Negri Sembilan

Pak Din is one of the senior referees that I've met. I still remember him because he refereed some of the games I played during schooling days. I enjoyed being part of the MSSM Rugby referees panel, even though I only get to referee only for one game. It was a valuable experience that I gained. The last game did not turn as good as I expected. I anticipated this game so much because Perak is playing. As a Perakian myself, I was very dissapointed with the attitude that was shown by the Perak bench. As coaches and teachers, I think they should respect the referee on the field and also assistant referee. Perak may have good players but they were spoilt by the bad attitude shown by the coaches and officials. In years to come I hope none of this will ever happen again. Jef handled the game well that day and he even gave the Perak coach a red card.

The "not so" young referees

******

The IRB Level One and Cobra coaching course 2008

I wanted to write about this post last year. The reason why I could do so was because these photos were with Tun and I've lost contact after the course was over. However, last week my wife happened to meet him at T-Confra meeting and he gave me these 'valuable' photos. Thanks Tun! It's the only testimony of my achievement as the best IRB-Cobra Course Participant. For me it's a knowledge gain and a moral booster. Thanks to MSST and also Cobra.

Me and Robo!
Best IRB-Cobra Course Participant
with my present "England Jersey"

Bro Lan, Tun and Me

2008 IRB-Cobra Course Participant

Cobra House, Petaling Jaya, Selangor

To the Lightning Brains, I shall give my full commitment to the training and the development of the team. As a referee, there is a lot of things to improve in refereeing. I may not be the best yet but I am willing to go the distance.