IPOH: Football is a powerful platform that can help foster unity and bring people of all races together.
Mohamad Halim Arafullah, the founder of the ARL Football Academy, said that football has proved to be an important unifier for promoting unity, harmony, and national development across all walks of life.
“Sports such as football unite everyone, regardless of ethnicity, and unity is essential to the success of the team you’re a part of
“How can we get through the opponent’s defence if we don’t work as a team? Without teamwork, we won’t withstand our rival’s attacks,” he said to Bernama.
According to Mohamad Halim, his academy currently has about 300 trainees from different ethnic backgrounds being groomed as stars in the national football league.
“At ARL, we understand the importance of unity and encourage participation from the Indian and Chinese communities. In fact, our trainees come from diverse ethnic backgrounds, including Sikhs and those of Portuguese descent.
“ARL not only scouts for new talents but also promotes unity. The spirit of unity in diversity must be instilled and nurtured at a young age,” he added.
Established in January 2022, the ARL Football Academy was inaugurated by Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin.
ARL’s initial target was to have 50 trainees participate, but the response exceeded expectations. The academy now has over 300 trainees, including girls ranging in age from four to 17.
Located at ARL Arena in Taman Wing Onn, here, its training programmes are supervised by head coach Mohamad Azahar Arafullah, who co-owns the academy.
Meanwhile, 10-year-old Nicholas Maverick shared his excitement about joining the academy last year to improve his football skills.
“At first, I felt a bit uncomfortable due to my limited proficiency in Bahasa Melayu. However, after mingling with others, I was able to adjust and enjoy being here.
“Having lots of friends and learning the right way to play, we’re also comfortable with the coaches here,” he added.
M Jaivitesh, 10, said that his dream of joining a football academy became a reality after his parents registered him at the ARL Academy.
“I’m thrilled because it’s my first time joining a football academy, and this is a great chance for me to work on improving my skills.
“There are trainees from different races here, like Malays, Chinese, and Indians. The coaches encourage us not to choose training partners from our own ethnic groups, which makes us feel more united,” he added.
Sofea Qaisara Mohd Halim, 11, said she decided to join the ARL Academy to prove that women can also play in a male-dominated sport like football.
“My dream is to become a professional player someday.
“We (female trainees) are happy here because everyone is very supportive and helpful. Every time we make a mistake, the coaching team gives us advice on how to improve,” she added. – BERNAMA
