Seng Kang Secondary School prides itself on providing its students with a holistic education. Its mission is to “nurture lifelong learners, gracious citizens and resilient leaders". So when it came to finding a partner for its school football programme, it is little wonder that the school found the School Football Academy (SFA) a perfect fit.
The SFA is an initiative under the Unleash The Roar! national football project to raise the quality and intensity of football in secondary schools. But beyond creating better footballers, the SFA programme also places emphasis on creating good student-athletes who can excel both on and off the pitch, championing virtues such as resilience and hard work.
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He said: “Beyond just focusing on football skills, coach Dawood and his team also look at our students as individuals, paying attention to the mental growth as well as helping to shape attitudes and mindsets.
“It is good that we share the same ethos and vision for the boys and I'm sure they will grow as individuals from the experience.”
Secondary two student Muhammad Audi Irfan, a central defender, reflected on how the coaching team has made him grow as a person, beyond simply football.
He said: “The coaches always tell us to believe in ourselves in any situation, never give up, and that their coaching and tactics are to help the team be open to different approaches. It made me have more self-belief, that mentally we can adapt to any situation. This is something we can apply not just to football, but to life.”
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“It has been a very positive and enriching experience both for me and the school as we try and build a positive culture of excellence and nurture an environment where the students can excel and do well in both sports and studies,” said Dawood.
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Football teacher-in-charge, Mr Joshua Lim, a physical education teacher, paid tribute to the professionalism of the SFA coaching staff and values-centred approach. He notes the positive transformation in the boys’ physical capabilities as well as their discipline and behaviour.
When it comes to holistic development for the student-athletes, Mr Lim shared that the team talk rituals before and after each match, helped them understand the significance of winning with good character values, which sets a commendable foundation for the players.
"The zero-compromise policy on values, consistently reinforced by coaches and teachers, underscores the importance of character both on and off the pitch. This commitment not only influences the outcome of matches but also shapes the players into young gentlemen with values that will guide them throughout their lives."
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Said Mr Sivarajan: “I think the whole vision and what we are trying to do is good and inspiring. We just have to stay on it and be committed to it. Over some time, we should be able to see the effects and the improvements.”
This story was written by Mashidayat Maszeni and first published on Unleash The Roar!
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