TRANS- TASMAN SECONDARY SCHOOLS NETBALL TOURNAMENT, NEW ZEALAND

Saturday May 28, 2011

BJSS team ready to show their mettle in Wellington

By Y.P. SIVAM
metrospt@thestar.com.my
Photos by SAMUEL ONG

BUKIT Jalil Sports School (BJSS) are geared up for an impressive outing in the Trans Tasmen Secondary Schools Netball competition in Wellington, New Zealand beginning on Monday.

We are well prepared as the players have been training since early this year - CHOKOO NL EE

The BJSS netball coach Choo Kon Lee said they have a strong team, with eight internationals.

“We are well prepared as the players have been training since early this year. The eight players in the team are also preparing for the World Championships in Singapore in July.

“With the experienced players on our side, we are looking towards the competition with optimism,’’ said Kok Lee.

The eight internationals are Nur Sharmila Md Shamsudin, Nurul Husna Akbal Amad, Nurul Adha Abu Bakar, Izyan Syazana Mohd Wazir, Siti Nor Farhana Mustafa, Nur Syafazliyana Mohd Ali, Noramirah Dayana Noor Azhar and Norashikin Kamal Zaman.

The tournament in Wellington is an invitational competition. The organisers were in Adelaide, Australia last year when BJSS were involved in a six-team competition there.

Kon Lee said they finished fifth in Adelaide.

Limbering up: The players going through a warm-up session.

“But the organisers of the Trans Tasmen Secondary Schools championship were impressed with our players. They extended an invitation and we accepted,’’ she added.

The eight internationals, along with Nor Farahana Nawi, were also in the team that played in Adelaide last year.

The other three players in the current BJSS team are Khairul Najuwa Sharahuddin, Nur Ianani Rosli and Nur Bahiyah Mohd Farit.

Kon Lee said the competition in Wellington would be tough as they would be up against top schools from Australia and New Zealand.

“Two teams are from Australia and three from New Zealand. The teams will provide a strong challenge to our players. We are aiming to finish in the top three bracket.

Pass me the ball: The players hard at work during training.

“It is not going to be easy but we are ambitious,’’ said Kon Lee.

BJSS also took part in the Pre-National Super League in Singapore in March. In the seven-team league, BJSS emerged champions after beating the other six teams.

After the tournament in Wellington, the players will return to their home states for the Malaysia Games in Kuala Lumpur from June 2-12.

They have another assignment in Melbourne, Australia after the Malaysia Games. Most of the players are also in the Malaysian team for the World Netball Championship in Singapore from July 3-10.

“There is non-stop competition for the players. But I believe the exposure gained will certainly be valuable for the players,’’ said Kon Lee.

RESULT:

1 RD: SSBJ VS PACIFIC RIM(PAR) : lose 32- 36

2 RD SSBJ VS AOTEAROA MAORI SECONDARY SCHOOLS(AMSS) : lose 22- 44

3 RD SSBJ VS SCHOOL SPORT AUSTRALIA(SSA) : lose 28- 43

4 RD SSBJ VS AUSTRALIA INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS GIRLS(AISS) : won 33- 27

5 RD SSBJ VS NEW ZEALAND SECONDARY SCHOOLS(NZSS) : lose 63- 32

(FINAL PLAY-OFFS) BJSS VS AISS : won 38- 33

Final result:

1. SSA

2. NZSS

3. PAR

4. AMSS

5. BJSS

6. AISS