SAFSA ATHLETES RECOGNISED FOR THEIR STERLING ACHIEVEMENTS

After losing the first three games in their debut season in the national basketball top-tier league, the Singapore Armed Forces Sports Association (SAFSA) men's basketball team was promptly labelled as the dark horse in the race for the league title - which was being defended by a team that were crowned champions for five straight years. Add to the mix a team with a diverse group of players with different backgrounds and seniority, no one fancied the SAFSA team to be title contenders for the National Basketball League (NBL) Championship 2009/2010.

Against all odds however, the SAFSA men's basketball team turned the tide and went on to clinch the championship title. For their impressive feat, they were crowned the Best Team (Men's) at the SAFSA Awards 2010 held at The Chevrons on 16 Jul.

Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Neo Kian Hong, who is also Chairman of the SAFSA Council, made special mention of the team's achievement in his keynote address during the awards ceremony. He commended the team for winning the NBL Championship - the first in the SAF's sporting history.

When asked about his feelings on winning the Best Team (Men's) Award and the NBL Championship, team manager-cum-coach Third Warrant Officer (3WO) Chua Ping, from Air Defence Operations Centre, told cyberpioneer he was "surprised and excited".

This is especially so as the Home United basketball team had been the kingpins of the National Basketball League, winning the championship for five straight years before the SAFSA men's basketball team wrestled the championship from them this year.

3WO Chua credited the win to the fighting spirit, teamwork and sacrifices made by his team mates - a mix of regulars, Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) and Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). 3WO Chua gave special thanks to his assistant coach, Staff Sergeant Derrick Lim, for his commitment and assistance in trainings.

2WO Poh Lip Meng, winner of the Best Sportsman award. The 41-year-old has been with the SAFSA shooting team since 2001 and the national shooting team since 2004.

When asked about the challenges he faced when managing the team, 3WO Chua said, "it was difficult to find a common training timeslot to accommodate the schedules of everyone, so the team sacrificed their weekday evenings and weekends to train."

Mr Victor Sim, team manager-cum-coach of the Best Team (Mixed) , the SAFSA badminton team, echoed similar considerations when managing his team. He said, "One of the problems I face is getting the whole team together because of the work commitments of team members". Mr Sim, a doctrine officer with the Army Logistics Training Institute, overcame the challenge by writing personal notes and contacting the commanders of his team members directly to seek their approval and convince them to give his team members the support for trainings and tournaments.

The passionate Mr Sim also convinced his players to train and hone their skills on their own time and even voluntarily going for overseas competitions to gain more exposure and experience.

In order for the SAFSA athletes to excel in their sports, the support from their loved ones is also paramount in allowing them to focus on their individual sporting events and work. "Without my wife's support, I won't be able to enjoy my shooting", said Second Warrant Officer (2WO) Poh Lip Meng, this year's Best Sportsman Award winner.

The 41-year-old commando from Special Operations Task Force, who has a 9-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter, commented that it was tough to balance family, work and shooting. He thanked his wife, Mdm Lim Shir Pei for her encouragement and added that it was comforting to have a home-cooked dinner served by his wife when he is back from training at night.

When asked about his future plans, the determined 2WO Poh said: "Get an Olympic medal."

The SAFSA athletes also credited their training in the SAF for their good discipline and physical fitness in the sporting events that they participate in. Master Sergeant (MSG) Dawn Lee Choon Eng, a member of SAFSA shooting team which won the the Best Team (Ladies) Award, said: "Army training helped in building up the discipline required in shooting."

These SAFSA athletes truly epitomises the competitiveness and character of a sporting SAF with their dedication, hard work, sacrifices and passion for sporting excellence. However, their achievements would not be possible without the support of their families and the SAF units. To our successful SAFSA athletes, drawing from the motto of a famous football club, "You will never walk alone."