Courtesy: Daily Express


Parents cry foul over ban

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Kota Kinabalu: Parents of four junior girls football players have urged the National Sports Council (MSN) to give their children the chance to participate in the Sabah Games (Saga) to be held in Tambunan this week.

The four - Haindee Mosroh, Pedrolia Martin Sikayun, Lovella Julia Jelus and Levelyta Jelus are currently in a limbo after the Sabah Football Association (Safa) issued a letter to the MSN to ban them for not participating in the futsal event at the Kuala Lumpur Sukma starting around the same time.

Florah Francis, who is representing the parents of the four players, told the media on Wednesday that the four shouldn't be penalised for their refusal to represent the state as they have written a letter as requested by Safa on May 22 and stating their reasons.

She said Safa should have contacted the parents to discuss the matter if they are not happy with the explanation before written to MSN and proposed the ban.

"The players are still in their teens and shouldn't be banned from playing without any proper reason. After all, the Minister had already stated clearly that the Saga Games is bigger than the current Sukma and this is where the state will discover their best athletes in preparation for the major Sukma next year," she added.

Florah, who is the guardian for Haindee, said the four players were never formally informed that they have been selected to play in the KL Sukma.

"There was no black and white to state that they have been chosen in the first place.

It was only through SMS between the players and the officials and Haindee was the first to receive the message.

"It was only later when the West Coast team wanted to register their names for the Saga Games when Safa informed them they cannot play and have to write in to state their reasons."

Florah hopes MSN will do the right thing and allow the girls to play, instead of punishing them as this may discourage others to take up the games in the future.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com