Malaysian Teen Sensation Nur Mecca Inspires College To Iowa Lakes Championship Victory
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Rising Malaysian woman football talent Nur Mecca Rania Mohd Hazri has made the country proud by helping Iowa Lakes Community College secure their first-ever Region 11 Championship title in Waterloo, the United States, on Sunday (3 Nov).
In the final, Nur Mecca scored a goal en route to inspiring Iowa Lakes Community College to a 5-4 win on penalties over Hawkeye Community College after the match ended 1-1 in regulation time. Even extra time failed to break the deadlock.
Nur Mecca can stand tall after playing a pivotal role in helping The Lakers end their long wait for the championship title.
To top it all off, the 19-year-old Kuala Lumpur-born carved an impressive milestone by clinching three awards - Offensive Player of the Tournament, All-Tournament Team and the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP).
“As this is the second year of my degree, I wanted to make a significant impact on the team because last year I couldn’t do much. I took this season very seriously, wanting to succeed not just for myself but for my team, so I did everything I could to help us become champions.
“The night before the final, I wondered if I could even make it to the All-Tournament Team. I doubted myself about the other two recognitions, but I was thrilled to be chosen as MVP and Offensive Player of the Tournament. It’s a huge achievement for me,” she said when contacted by Bernama today.
Nur Mecca is not about to rest on her laurels, though.
Having recorded 12 goals and eight assists this season, she now shifts her focus to leading her team to achieve another milestone - qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament through the Plains District Championship when they take on the winners of Region 13 on Saturday (Nov 9).
“Our opponents have not been confirmed yet, but it’s possibly Johnson County Community College. It’s going to be a tough match as we’re ranked 16th and they’re ranked second nationally. There’s a significant gap, but I believe nothing is impossible. We just need to play our game and give it our all,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Hazri expressed immense pride in his daughter's accomplishment, which may well see her being the first ASEAN woman player to earn an MVP in an NJCAA tournament.
“I cannot confirm for ASEAN players, but after some research, it appears they (officials there) have never heard of such a recognition before. However, I can confirm she’s the first from Malaysia to win MVP in an NJCAA tournament there.
“I hope she continues to excel both academically and in football. Many have suggested she pursue a professional career in Europe someday and, for now, that remains her aspiration. However, she is keeping her options open as she enjoys studying as well,” he said.
Nur Mecca is as much an 'A’ student on the field as she is off the field, having achieved a 4.00 CGPA in her first two semesters for her degree in Arts-General Studies, with plans to select either Computer Science or Finance to major in next year.
She now awaits the opportunity to showcase her skills with the national senior team, having represented the Malayan Tigress from the age of 12 and playing for the Under-15, Under-18 and Under-19 teams in international competitions.
-- BERNAMA
