PETALING JAYA: The Education and Skills Empowerment Foundation (YPPK) are on a mission to reconnect with as many as 4,000 former Selangor athletes who may have slipped off the radar since their sporting days.
YPPK chairman Datuk Noorul Ariffin Abdul Majeed said the foundation plan to visit all nine districts in Selangor to identify and register former athletes who represented the state.
More importantly, YPPK want to ensure they are not forgotten and can access the assistance available from the state government.
“We will go to all nine districts and open registration for Selangor athletes in each district.
“We are not promising the sky and stars, but we will do whatever we can to help them,” said Noorul at the Selangor Athletes Legacy Programme held in conjunction with the 63rd Malaysia Day celebration.
The programme was organised with the cooperation of the Malaysia Classic Motoring Association (MCMA) and EasyHome Mall.
There are believed to be between 800 and 900 former Selangor athletes who went on to represent Malaysia at international level.
Noorul believes the number could run into the thousands once those who had competed at national level and in the Malaysian Games (Sukma) are also taken into account.
“Many from Gen Z do not know who they are. We want to highlight them so that the public, especially the younger generation, will know the former athletes who represented the country,” he added.
This year’s edition brought together 18 former athletes and sporting legends, up from just five in the previous edition.
Among those involved are athletics greats Zaki Sadri, G. Shanti, Datuk M. Rajamani and Datuk Zaiton Othman, along with badminton legend Datuk Foo Kok Keong, football figure Datuk R. Rajagobal and former squash player Kelvin Hoo.
YPPK are also looking to help former athletes gain easier access to assistance in areas such as welfare, housing and healthcare.
“Selangor has many facilities available for the people. So, for former Selangor athletes, we will try to connect them with assistance such as housing and faster access to medical treatment,” said Noorul.
