By Rebecca Yip/Red Sports
Qamarul of Damai fights off the challenge of his Montfort opponent. (Photo 1 © Les Tan/Red Sports)
PESE Branch, Tuesday, July 24, 2012 — After his Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE), Muhammad Qamarul was offered places in St. Andrew’s Secondary and Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) via the Direct School Admission (DSA) route.
His final decision would certainly raise some eyebrows.
“I turned down DSA places to St. Andrew’s and ACS(I) to move on to Damai Secondary with my coach,” said Qamarul matter-of-factly.
The belief coach Adin had in him played a part in his decision.
“When I was in Primary Three, I was very fat, but my coach believed in me and told me that I could do it. By the time I was in Primary Five, I slimmed down,” said Qamarul, who plays fly half for Damai.
“I like rugby because it’s a contact sport,” said Qamarul, who kicked the conversions for his team in their 64-14 thrashing of Montfort Secondary in the National C Division Rugby Championship.
Damai are in Group C together with Montfort and Jurong Secondary.
Qamarul’s teammate, Farihin Bin Hazri, better known as Jack to his teammates, ran in six out of eight of Damai’s tries. On every occasion, Jack managed to outrun Montfort’s leaky defence to score right under the goalpost, giving Qamarul easy conversions.
Jack, who is now in Secondary Two, said he enjoys the team spirit when they are on the field. He only only picked up rugby a year ago but he has a killer side-step and unmatched speed. On one occasion, coach Adin could be heard shouting: “Give the ball to Jack!” The second the ball was in hand and he had a metre or two on his opponent, it was almost a sure try.
Jack was inspired to play rugby because of his brother.
“I saw that he not only developed physically but also improved in his studies, so I also wanted to excel just like him,” Jack said passionately of his brother.
Qamarul and Jack both fondly remember their plate semi-final against Pioneer Secondary last year.
“We were one try down but we came back to win and enter the finals. And we were fasting before the match,” said Jack.
Damai’s victory over Montfort in their opening match puts them on track for the Plate final again. They face Jurong in their second and last Group C match on Friday, July 27th. Kick off is at 4.15pm, at PESE Branch (formerly CCA Branch).
Damai Secondary Roster
Muhammad Hydir B Mahyudin (#4), Tan Jun Ming (#6), Muhammad Farihin B Hazri (Jack) (#7), Lim Jingheng, Darius (#7), Ahmad Danial Idham B Danish (#8), Tang Jun Hao (#11), Bryan Goh (#14), Muhamad Rizman B Muhamad Razak (#15), Muhammad Zikry B Mohamad Rizal (#16), Chor Mun Hoe (#20), Aman Shukreeh B Ahmad Maliki (#21), Ahmad Rifaii B Zulkifli (#23), Muhammad Qamarul Zafran B M A (#25), Nur Muhammad Azizi B Zainal (#26), Jeremy Tang Gun Hao (#28), Muhammad Haziq B Abu Bakar (#30), Abdul Ammar B Mahmood Jumat (#31), Ng Jun Lin (#36), Ng Jia Jun (#38), Shaik Nabil Basharahil B F (#39)
National C Division Rugby Championship — full fixtures and results
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