Double cheer as Sarawak rugby salute Brother Columba

October 31, 2017

Inaugural Br Columba Memorial Cup champions and coach Zamzy (left) pose with Karim (sixth right) and (from fourth right) Liew, Morshidi, Song and Ong after the prize presentation.

KUCHING: The Sarawak Rugby Union’s (SRU) efforts to rejuvenate rugby in the state has received a tremendous boost with good news from the Sarawak government last Sunday.

Firstly, the Song Kheng Hai Rugby Ground will stay on as a permanent venue for rugby activities.

Secondly, the State government has also decided to build two more rugby pitches at the Sarawak Sports Complex for regional and international tournaments.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah conveyed the good news during the closing ceremony of the inaugural Brother Columba Memorial Cup Sevens at Song Kheng Hai Ground on Sunday.

“We would like to see this field being preserved. This field has gone through many, many years of rugby and those who are associated with the sport in Kuching will have a lot of fond memories of this field and we just cannot let development take away that kind of memories.

“It is so sentimental to the rugby association.”

“That’s why I fully agreed with Tan Sri (Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani) just now that this place will not only remain a green but we will also try to make it a better field for rugby,” he said.

Karim revealed that a recent SSC board meeting had discussed ways to further boost the sport in the state.

“We want rugby to also have a good field at the Sarawak Sports Complex.

“We can have important tournaments organised there where the ground will be softer so that it will not be so hurtful to the players,” added Karim.

Meanwhile, Wolfpack A lifted the Brother Columba Memorial Cup after they beat Saint Development A from Sibu 12-7 in the final in front of a packed grandstand of many old Josephians and KRFC veterans including 83-year old Titus Chuo and 80-year old Albert Kedit.

The third placing went to WORC A who blanked Miri Piranhas 12-0 in the play-off.

WORC B also took home a trophy when they defeated KRFC 12-5 in the Plate final while Wolfpack B claimed the Bowl trophy after outplaying UiTM 24-5 in the final.

Wolfpack coach Zamzy Abdul Rahman was full of praise for his team which comprised Kolej Abdillah old boys and five players from the school’s senior squad.

“They played according to the tactical plan and the team spirit was high and strong. That gave a good impact to the team,” he added.

Zamzy said Kolej Abdillah were also the winners of the Suksar U19 rugby tournament held two weeks ago.

Also present at the closing ceremony were State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee, SRU president Richard Song Swee Jin and Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association president Dato Patrick Liew.

A minute’s silence was also observed by all present in memory of Br Columba who led St Joseph’s School in Kuching during a golden era of educational and sporting excellence from 1970 to 1987. Karim, Morshidi and Song were students of the iconic La Salle Brother. -TheBorneoPost