TUESDAY, 21 MAY - Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) emerged champions at the recent Sabah Technical Institutions Football Championship (PKK). UMS defeated host PKK with a goal of 1-0 at the finals.

UMS, as the invited team started their game with Politeknik Sandakan (PSS) with a score of 3-0. This winning streak continued when they narrowly defeated Institut Kemahiran Mara (IKM) before trouncing the team of Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN) with a score of 4-0.

The game between UMS and PKK was full of action when both teams were in attacking mode. However, at the second half, UMS changed their tactics and successfully controlled the game by their attacks right through the opponent’s goal. The first goal came during the second half when the replacement player wearing jersey number 21, Andi Habbibi Ambo pushed the ball that was sent in through a corner shot by Memet Kaya which defeated PKK thus lifting UMS as the champions.

PKK took the second spot whilst third place went to PSS. IKBN and IKM each took the forth and fifth placings.

Meanwhile, the Head Coach of UMS team David Johnny was satisfied with the showmanship of his players throughout the championship. He said that the championship was in preparation for the forthcoming Borneo Higher Institutions Football League Championship which will end in the middle of June. At the championship, UMS team proved their prowess when they were declared champions, winning all their matches.

Source: Sports Science Programme, SPPS

                                                                                                                              Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

MONDAY, 20 MAY – The Sports Science Programme, School of Education and Social Development (SPPS) Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) continues to spearhead research on rugby referees in Malaysia with various researches done headed by the head of the programme, Dr. Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin. Recently, Dr. Mohamad who is also the former international rugby referee and three UMS Sport Science undergraduate students conducted research on 7-a side rugby coaches in the state.

According to Dr. Mohamad Nizam, the research was aimed at comparing the rate pulse and length covered by a referee when refereeing a rugby championship besides observing their movement patterns. He said the research priority was to value the needs of a rugby referee who was refereeing a championship formulating a strategy on good judging.

“This research was done due to some grouses by players and team managers on the performance of rugby referees. Hence, my research team and I hope that this research would be a fruitful contribution towards the rugby sports especially to the referee of this sport in Malaysia,” he further added.

Dr. Nizam who is the international rugby referee evaluator said the research was done on the four main referees in the state who had vast knowledge in the field of rugby in Malaysia including refereeing at the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM) and the Asean Rugby Football Union (ARFU). According to him, the apparatus used in this research is known as the Polar Personal Trainer RC3, GPS, a device that uses the technology of pulse detector, length and running pattern affixed to the chest and leg.

In the meantime, one of the referees, Vencant Yakun said the research was important to ascertain the referee’s performance of the said event when refereeing in a championship. He said each referee should own this device so that they can gauge for themselves their own performance as the device is seen as an important tool to assess their physical fitness and the health level of rugby referees.

Another referee, Andreas Hendricus thought that the research using the said device was interesting because the data can be seen as soon as the championship was over. Hence, he hoped that the efforts should be continued so that this sport can be improved further in future.

Meanwhile, all three Science Sports Programme students who assisted in this research held that this research was one of the branches for knowledge which was new to them. Besides acquiring experience as a researcher, Ericson Gustin, Azizul Lawrence and Almah Darus also hoped that they would be given the trust and guidance from Dr. Nizam to conduct future research on rugby.

Besides the research, Dr.Nizam also conducts research on judges’ performance predictor factor in his PhD thesis. His invention and innovation in producing the device to help with rugby referee training to obtain recognition and also won Silver medal in the Invention Competition (PEREKA) 2012 and Silver medal at the national level through the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition (ITEX 2013). The success helped raise UMS’ name as the first referee research centre in Malaysia. – FL

Source: Sport Science Programme, SPPS
                                                                                                                                Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

FRIDAY, 17 MAY – In conjunction with World Turtle Day 2013, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) through the Borneo Marine Research Institute (IPMB) will be celebrating the day at Mabul Island, Semporna which will be officiated by the Deputy Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Pang Yuk Ming.

The Director of IPMB, Prof. Dr. Saleem Mustafa said the celebration was to educate and create awareness to the public on marine life such as turtle and tortoise, besides encouraging human involvement in helping marine life grow to their potential in their natural ecosystem.

According to him, this activity involved volunteers not only from Sabah but Peninsular Malaysia and outside Malaysia besides students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pulau Mabul, Semporna.

“About 200 volunteers are expected to join in this effort to ensure the turtle population and its ecosystem are protected,” he said in a press conference at the Gallery, UMS.

He said, IPMB will conduct a census on sea turtles at Mabul Island by capturing, picture taking, measuring and tagging those turtles.

“It is a follow-up project to find a conclusion to the research which is conducted by a group of research group headed by IPMB Senior Lecturer, Dr. Pushpa Palaniappan,” he added.

The programme was organised with the cooperation from the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry Sabah, Sabah Tourism Board through Sabah Parks, Wild Life Department, Uncle Chang, 1Borneo Grand Ballroom and The Borneo Connection will be held on 23 May 2013.

By: Faezah Mohamad Dun/Feria Lee
Photo: Musaab Umair
                                                                                                                       Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division

FRIDAY, 17 MAY – The Women Basketball League organised by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) for a month ended with a stiff competition recently.

Five teams represented their schools namely the School of Education and Social Development (SPPS), School of Medicine (SPU), School of Psychology and Social Work (SPKS), School of Science and Technology (SST) and School of Food and Nutrition (SSMP).

SPPS team emerged champion when they defeated SPKS with a total score of 36-2. SPPS took the lead when they trounced SPKS with a score of 28-2, as early as the first 10 minutes. The score placed them on the second spot whilst SST captured the third spot.

In the meantime, the head of SPPS team, Tho Wan Jun said she was satisfied with their involvement in the league this year as they were not able to participate last year because of lack of players. They were lucky this year as more students from the Sport Science Programme participated.

One of the SPPS players, Melvina Marvin Chong said their involvement in the Women Basketball League were the firsts for many of the players. However, under the coaching of lecturers such as Dr. Mohamad Nizam Nazarudin, Pathmanathan K. Suppiah and Hasnol Noordin, had enabled them to increase their fitness, discipline and spirit eventually leading to their win.

The prize-giving ceremony at this championship which was aimed at picking new talents was done by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Student Afffairs and Alumni, Assoc. Prof. Datuk Dr. Hj. Kasim Hj. Md Mansur. – FL

Source: Sports Science Programme, SPPS
                                                                                                                                  Information and Media Section, Corporate Relations Division