Miri Touch Association eyes international tourneys
MIRI: The newly formed Miri Touch Association is eager to organise an international tournament in conjunction with the Miri May Festival next year.
This is according to its president Yeo Hui Teck who said the event would be hosted in collaboration with Miri City Council and related agencies.
He also revealed that coaching and judging courses would be organised in Miri soon with the support of Sarawak Touch Association and Malaysia Touch Association (MTA).
“This is in line with the association’s vision to increase the number of talented coaches and referees in Sarawak,” said Yeo at the inauguration of the association cum Miri Touch men’s team appreciation ceremony officiated by Miri mayor Adam Yii at Piasau Boat Club last Saturday.
Also present were Miri City councilor Warziedea Ahmad, MTA president Ahmad Sufiani Johari, Hj. Hafiz Drahman, Sarawak Touch Association president Hj. Hafiz Drahman, North Zone head of Sarawak Sport Corporation Netty Anak Elvis, Miri Divisional Touch Association committee members, Miri Division Rugby Association players and invited guests, Piranhas Lutong Rugby Club, SMK Merbau and the 7s Rugby Sarawak women’s squad for the Sukma 2022.
Touch, also known as touch football or touch rugby, is a variant of rugby league that is conducted under the direction of the Federation of International Touch (FIT).
Though it shares similarities and history with rugby football, it is recognised as a sport in its own right, Sufiani in his speech assured that MTA will help in organising the FIT Level 1 Coaching Course in Miri this year where 30 coaches statewide are expected to attend. MTA will also seek approval for the organization of two international tournaments in Sarawak, namely the International Miri City Touch Cup and the Borneo Touch Cup in Kuching in 2023.
Meanwhile, the mayor welcomed the establishment of the association and applauded the team’s success in the recent STA Invitational Touch League Championships 2022.
He believed the sport will help promote tourism in Miri and attract teams from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Brunei Darussalam to the city.