Sepaktakraw: AGM scheduled for February 17

The Amateur Sepaktakraw Association of Sri Lanka will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Feb. 17, 2018 at the Archery Pavilion of the CR & FC, Longdon Place, Colombo. 

According to an Association source this years’ AGM will see a few changes in the Administration of office-bearers due to the Long-standing Doyen and the driving force behind the emergence of Sepaktakraw in Sri Lanka T. Nizam Hajireen who from four Clubs in the late 80s with sheer dedication and commitment developed to having over 27 Clubs and Associations playing Sepaktakraw to-date spending his own resources and the very evident possibility of increasing that figure with several schools billed to commence Sepaktakraw this year, deciding to hand over the Presidency to one of his protégés whom he had been grooming for the last two years to take over for a well deserved rest and break from the Administration pending the approval and consent of the entire membership. 

The Association source however said that the majority of members barring a few have thrown their weight behind the President and does not want him to totally leave them and to remain even as a Vice-President till they acquire adequate proficiency and stability of the game and its’ Administrative functions, especially from the Schools’ Sector where the President single-handedly went far and wide to train the children and form teams of both Boys and Girls Island-wide. 

The source further added that most newcomers to the game does not know that the President’s wife Shirleen Nizara is the pioneer of Womens’ Sepaktakraw in Sri Lanka and as a lady teacher she was able to persuade Girls in her school at Pepiliyana to take up to the game in 1989, followed thereafter by other schools in the Nugegoda and Maharagama areas. 

Her efforts to promote Sepaktakraw has been recognised by the International Sepaktakraw Federations by nominating her to the Women's council of the Federations. 

She is an honourary invitee at many International Sepaktakraw Events. 

She has devotedly accompanied the President when conducting training programs for schools and clubs, etc, island -wide over a long period of time. 

Nizam Hajireen will be remembered by all Sportsmen and Sportswomen for his great sacrifices, dedication and commitment for having spread the gospel of Sepaktakraw throughout Sri Lanka amongst all communities and races without communal or racial prejudice as sadly advocated by a few clubs playing Sepaktakraw. 

It is hoped that Nizam Hajireen will heed to the clarion call of the majority of the grateful membership and not totally leave the domain he built with sheer courage and strength amidst obstacles and other third degree methods adopted by disgruntled elements posing as sportsmen who are past their prime and still want to play and deprive the emergence of youth and stifle the growth and development of the game in Sri Lanka.