PUTRAJAYA — After six months of uncertainty without leadership, the Kuala Lumpur Cycling Association (KLCA) finds new hope with Datuk Razalif Mohd Zain stepping in as patron.
KLCA has been without a president since Datuk Razlan Razali’s unexpected resignation in March, less than a month after his election to the role.
According to the association’s constitution, a new president can only be appointed for a full two-year term, preventing a temporary appointment.
In the meantime, Razalif is willing to assist KLCA in any way possible, even if it is just in the capacity of a patron.
Razalif is no stranger to the local sports scene, as he is also the owner of the Bukit Tambun football club, which is currently competing in the M3 League.
“I’ve always had an interest in cycling but never had the opportunity to get involved at the management level. However, when the opportunity to work with KLCA arose, I saw it as the perfect chance.
“I’m aware that when I was appointed last month, there were many internal issues. The former president is a friend of mine, so it’s a significant responsibility for me to restore and improve KLCA’s name and reputation. I will do my best,” Razalif told Scoop.
Therefore, his vision now is to transform the Kuala Lumpur cycling team into a semi-professional outfit by next year.
“I’ve already discussed with the acting president, Firdaus Arshad, about transforming KLCA into a semi-professional team. We plan to have our riders compete internationally.
“In terms of funding, my foundation, Yayasan Metamorphosis, will allocate between RM500,000 and RM1 million to support this initiative,” he added.
As a first step, Razalif has donated a van to KLCA. The handover took place at a special ceremony held at the Federal Territory Council building today, which was also attended by the council’s sports director, Nik Ahmad Zahiruddin Bin Nik Saleh.
National legend Datuk Ng Joo Ngan currently coaches the Kuala Lumpur cycling team. — September 12, 2024