Football helps youngsters lead a healthy lifestyle

JOHOR BARU: Football is considered the "mother of all sports" and no one can deny its popularity at the local, national and global level.

In Malaysia the game has always been considered the number one sport and the football craze unleashed by the recent Suzuki Cup was the testament of the game's popularity in the country.

Football is a healthy game that puts to test one's physical and mental endurance and the game in fact helps its players to stay healthy.

Therefore in ensuring the younger generation stays healthy, the football tournaments in schools not only help students excel in the game but also lead a healthy life from young. Feedback received from the coaches and players at the 2014 Children's Football Tournament organised by the Tanjung Pelepas Port(PTP) here in October found that the game also helped to relieve stress related to academic studies and enhanced self discipline.

For one of the footballers, Muhamad Amirul Salim, football has been his game since he was six years of age. Now at 12, he also participates in other sports but it is football that he plays each evening.

The youngster who now represents his school, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Pulai, is well aware that the game requires a lot of physical and mental endurance and dexterity in running, dribbling and scoring the goal.

Though the game saps one's energy, it is a healthy activity for Muhamad Amirul and it has helped him to maintain an ideal body weight.

Muhammad Amirul admitted that he was once nearing obesity and was taunted by his friends.

"Then I set the goal to bring down my body weight by participating in sports. Now I have reached an ideal bodyweight that I' am maintaining through sports including football," he said to Bernama when met at Stadium Educity, Nusajaya, here during the tournament.

Football calls for extensive training and guidance under a coach in not only mastering the game but also in building up the stamina and discipline.

The football coach for SK Nusantara in Gelang Patah, Mohd Azeli Adli, 37, admits that moulding young novices into footballers calls for great patience.

"What else, to guide them we have put up with their attitudes and at times have to raise our voices to enhance discipline and focus on the game," he said.

Mohd Azeli said as the physical exercise teacher at the school, he has the upper hand in training his students in sports and games in the right manner.

He pointed out that students have to excel in sports not only to sweat out but also in facing the pressures of learning at home and in the classroom.

Wafiq Irshah Masrizal, 11, felt that football helps him to reduce stress.

"When I am in action on the field, I'm relieved from my classroom stress," he said.

The young footballer who also represented SK Nusantara felt elated after being picked as the ace player in the tournament after he scored goals in the preliminary and final rounds.

SK Nusantara was the champion after the team defeated SK Morni Pok 2–0.

Though the final game was hampered by the inclement weather, both teams in the final displayed their best game on the field.

Apart from the two teams, the other teams were from SK Kampung Pulai, SK Taman Nusa Perintis 1, SK Tanjung Kupang, SK Pendas Laut, SK Kampung Melayu and SK Tanjung Adang.

SK Nusantara that emerged as the champion took home the challenge trophy, medal and cash price worth RM1,000 while SK Morni Pok as the runner-up took home a medal and RM800.

The third placing went to PTP Junior 1 that received a medal and RM600.

PTP's Chief Corporate Officer Azharuddin Nordin noted that the tournament also helped to identify those with good skills in the game.

"We don want to see them excel in academics alone and ignoring sports and their health," he said.

Meanwhile, the Johor State Sports Council Director Mohd Radzi Mohd Amin noted that the tournament like this were most welcomed and it also helped to inculcate the team spirit.- Bernama.