WiPers Chasing Hattrick As Parting Gift For Coach Norizan

By Muhammad Afiff Md Adnan

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) - There is no parting gift more meaningful for the head coach of the Federal Territories (WiPers) netball contingent, Norizan Rajab, than a successful defence of the title to complete a hat-trick with her charges at the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI) in Sarawak next month.

Norizan, 55, said that since the average player in the squad is no stranger to her, she is optimistic that the last phase of training with 19 days remaining has been well planned despite no training abroad.

“Considering the potential of the players, whom I guided for the past four years are still in the squad, I felt a bit sorry (to leave the team before SUKMA 2024 starts). It is imperative that we continue the dominance by defending the SUKMA title and create a hat-trick in this edition,” she told Bernama today.

She had announced a decision in 2022 to part ways from managing her beloved squad to change course as a team advisor (to other coaches) after driving the success of the WiPers squad to emerge as champions of the 20th edition by beating Pahang in the final held at the Kuala Lumpur SUKMA.

The WiPers netball squad won SUKMA gold in 2000, 2004 and 2006, before Norizan held the reins to stretch their dominance as champions in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2018 and the 2022 (KL) edition.

Norizan, however, admitted that the target this time was not easy to achieve as other contingents have emerged as threats to curb Wipers’ ambition to emerge as state netball champions for the ninth time.

The netball competition in Sarawak will take place at Mukah Polytechnic Hall from Aug 17 to 23.

-- BERNAMA