Saturday 21st March 2009 saw eight media teams compete with teams from the Convention industry, including Sarawak Convention Bureau and Borneo Convention Centre Kuching, at the inaugural SCB Media Futsal Challenge at Arena Sukan.
The Futsal Challenge is designed to strengthen and enhance the relationship between the convention industry and local media through friendly team sports competitions. The emphasis was on fun and exercise rather than serious competition, with many participants playing the sport for the first time ever.
Participating media teams were Cats Radio, RTM, Berita Harian, Borneo Post, Media and Telecommunication Corporate Division Malaysia Information Department, Utusan Sarawak, Mingguan Sarawak and Film Negara Malaysia.
However the competition soon heated up with expert teams from the Media and Telecommunications Corporate Division Malaysia Information Department making their way unbeaten through the league. In a hard fought final, that ended in a 2 – 2 draw, team INFO B won on a penalty shoot out by one goal from their colleagues INFO FC.
In the third place playoff the team from RTM narrowly beat Film Negara Malaysia 1- 0.
Entering into the spirit of the event, attractive prizes were sponsored by supporters Utusan Sarawak, Mingguan Sarawak and Semangat Progresif (M) Sdn Bhd. In additional generous support for catering and beverages to fortify the teams between games were sponsored by Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, SIS system and Cats Radio.
The Sarawak Convention Bureau Chief Executive Officer Jill Henry, ably supported by the SCB mascot Harry the Hornbill, welcomed the teams and kicked off the first exhibition match between the Sarawak Convention Bureau Team and students from SMK Kenyalang.
“I hope this will be the first of many such fun events where we can spend time with our colleagues from the media in friendly competition and at the same time do some good for our own well being by participating in healthy activities – even it if is just cheering on our colleagues from the sidelines.”
“There is a great sense of camaraderie that comes from participating in team sports with colleagues and friends and I hope that this event will be the first of many such sporting challenges in future.”
