Aizat Bin Zaidi (Nee Soon East #8) executes a sunback spike as Muhd Sulaiman B Aziz (Chong Pang #10) blocks. (Photo 1 © Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports)
Bedok North, Saturday, June 30, 2012 — “I’ve been playing sepak takraw since K2,” said Aizat Bin Zaidi, 16. “My dad introduced me to the game.”
His dad, Zaidi Bin Hassan, was sitting in the stands watching his son play for Nee Soon East CSC in their 2-0 (15-9, 15-10) win over Chong pang CSC Team A in the Community Games sepak takraw juniors tournament.
“I play for school and we were national champions in the B Division,” said the Yishun Secondary player. “We were undefeated all the way. We came in second in the zonals, where we lost to Fuchun. But we beat Fuchun in the nationals.”
“I enjoyed the team spirit. I felt proud because it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Aizat, recalling the national championship journey which earned him a School Colours award.
The Community Games has a different feel about it for Aizat, who has competed in more than five inter-regu competitions for his Community Sports Club in Nee Soon.
“Community Games, it’s about making new friends with other teams,” said Aizat, who trains at Block 274 in Yishun on Friday and Sunday, from 5 to 10pm.
The match was played in a friendly spirit, with players on opposite sides knowing each other as friends. While giving this interview, Zakaria of Chong Pang walked past and exchanged a handshake with Aizat.
“He’s my teammate’s brother,” said Aizat.
When asked which were the teams to look out for in his Nee Soon Cluster, Aizat said: “Nee Soon Central.”
The top two teams of each Cluster will go on to play in the Singapore National Games scheduled for September 1st to 9th.
Nee Soon East Lineup
Md Rashid B Mubarak Ali (#6), Aizat B Zaidi (#8), Muhd Zahid B Rosli (#9)
Chong Pang A Lineup
Muhd Sulaiman B Aziz (#10), Mohd Zakaria B M M Jihad (#9), Karteek s/o Selva Kumar (#7), Muhd Zahir B Zailan (#8)
For more photos, go to the next page.
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