SHAH ALAM – National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) chairman Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed hopes that more corporate bodies, government-linked companies (GLC), and government agencies get involved in bringing awareness to former athletes back to the mainstream.
He praised the role that Malayan Railways Ltd (KTMB) has played in supporting the initiatives of Yakeb in giving former athletes a platform to be back in the mainstream.
“Former athletes want to contribute back to the nation and their community after retirement.
“KTMB is the only corporate body that has supported us for all of our events starting with futsal, netball and badminton.
“Then we were able to highlight legends of the game like Ong Ewe Hock and Foo Kok Keong.
“Today we were able to bring Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan, Khalid Jamlus and Alif Izwan Yuslan to meet the youth so they can get to know those who have brought glory to the country in the past and present,” he told reporters at a press conference during the KTM Komuter Cup football championships held at EV Arena in Shah Alam today.
The KTM Komuter Cup features participation from 40 youth football teams from around the country.
Participants from six years old until 14 competed for glory at the second edition of the cup.
KTMB Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Rani Hisham Samsudin said the main reason to organise this competition is to raise awareness among the youths about sports especially football in cooperation with Yakeb.
“This is not the first time we have worked with Yakeb, in fact this is the third time.
“We realise what Yakeb is doing is good, they are helping former sporting greats of the nation that have been forgotten.
“So indirectly our cooperation with Yakeb ensures their activities further expand, they are helping us by bringing legends of the game like today we have Zainal Abidin, Khalid Jamlus and Aliff Izwan and at the same time we are helping them as well,” he said. – December 30, 2023