KUALA LUMPUR: Victory was not the primary focus when the Crime Investigation Journalist Association (Cija) met the Bukit Aman Crime Investigation Department (CID) in a friendly match at the Arena Sukan KL pitch on Wednesday (Jan 22).
Instead, the match was designed to foster better relations between crime media practitioners and the police force.
Clad in white jerseys and red shorts, Bukit Aman CID controlled the match but media practitioners in yellow jerseys and black shorts, also put up a good fight.
The friendly competition, which was headlined by deputy CID director Deputy Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus and the CID D3 principal assistant director Senior Asst Comm Soffian Santong.
DCP Fadil said the event fostered the spirit of sportsmanship and healthy lifestyle among CID officers and personnel.
"We appreciate the role of the media in reporting the successes and actions taken by the CID in curbing crime nationwide.
"The match also serves to ensure that all officers and personnel are healthy especially when carrying out their duties," he said.
Meanwhile, CJIA president Safeek Affendy Razali said the match managed garner a great response from the media fraternity with over 20 personnel from various media houses taking part.
"Among those who took part were from The Star, Berita Harian, Sinar Harian, Bernama, Makkal Osai, Utusan Malaysia, Harian Metro, Kosmo, Makkal Osai and RTM.
"This is the first time we gathered our members for a friendly football match since the club was formed about two years ago.
"It is a great avenue to foster good relations between club members and the police," he said.