New Generation Sports Leaders

The time has come for major changes to take place in the local sports scene. These changes has to begin with the leadership, and it has to happen soon. Only an overall change in leadership would bring a new passion to bring sports to greater heights.

Lately we have seen the emergence of a new generation of sports leaders making their mark in their respective fields. They are the future administrators of Malaysian sports.

Besides them being in "influential" positions in their respective sports, they should by now be part of the planning and management of sports in this country.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the other agencies should, by now, start bringing them in to help bring proper focus into the various existing programs, and to chart a new course for sports.

Here are some of the new generation sports leaders.

LOW BENG CHOO, 51, is well known in International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and other organizations. She plays an active in Women and Sports Committees of both international body.

As Deputy Secretary General of International Softball Federation (ISF), Beng Choo has been in the lead to promote the game and also to get it back into the Olympic program. In the local scene she is the President of Softball Association of Malaysia (SAM).

The former national netball player has a good relationship with the government and has been a member of the Sports Advisory Panel to the Minister of Youth and Sports since 2004.

Ms Low, a private law practictioner since 1983, is now seen as a future leader to lead the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM). She's currently its Vice President.

WINDSOR JOHN PAUL, 48, has been the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) Development Officer since 2005. The world body recognizes his administrative and organizational skills and have appointed him as World Cup General Coordinator since 1998 and Olympics since 2004.

Windsor (picture) has been a FIFA Administration and Management Instructor since 2005 and has been awarded FAM's Advance Coaching Award (1991). He also attended the Olympic Solidarity Course (1993) and Asian Football Secretary Course (1996).

After a 11 year spell as a teacher, Windsor joined Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) as its Youth Department Officer in 1994. From then on he worked in different areas - Head of Research and Development (FAM), Director of Competitions and Technical (Asean) and Technical Assistant FIFA Development Office in Kuala Lumpur.

A graduate in Corporate Communications, Windsor is expected to be the General Coordinator at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. He would be a great asset for sports, especially football.

ANTONY LEE FOOK WENG, 40, has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of AIG Global Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd since March 2005. The company was set up in 1998 as a joint venture between AIG and Software International.

The son of the late Tan Sri Alex Lee, Antony (picture) graduated from University College in London with a Bachelor of Science and, in addition, Diploma in Architecture from the same institution.

Antony, who was elected Vice President of Womens' International Squash Players Association (WISPA on 8 August and has been on the board of WISPA since 2007, is actively involved in raising the profile of the game worldwide.

He was the Vice President of Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM) from 2004-2006 and the Chairman of Federal Territory Squash Association (2005-2006).

Antony was also the manager of the national team to the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and was instrumental in organizing the inaugural KL Open Championship at the Berjaya Times Square.

In addition, he served as a member of Malaysian Golf Association's National Handicap System Sub- Committee from 2004-2007. He was involved in the OCM's Tan Sri Alex Lee Athlete's Education Fund committee since 2002.

ROSMANIZAM ABDULLAH (picture), born on 25 May 1960 di Kota Bharu, Kelantan, is the Assistant Editor of Utusan Malaysia. He is the Assistant Treasurer of OCM, Secretary General of Malay Cricket Association of Malaysia (MCAM) and the Vice President of Kelantan Cricket Association (KCA).

Rosmanizam was instrumental in setting up the MCAM and also bringing in Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar Tuanku Abdul Rahman as its president in 1994. Almarhum Tuanku Ja'afar held the post until 27 December 2008.

He was instrumental in guiding the Malay Cricket team which became the national champion and also to introduce the sport into kampungs all over the country.

The Malay Cricket;s development program involved all races and now they have Training Centres all over the country. In fact, the national age group teams are all products of Malay Cricket programs.

Almost half of the national team now consists of players who came up through Malay Cricket's developments programs in the villages. The Malay Cricket Association won the Best Development Program for Asia in 2004.

Rosmanizam was instrumental ini getting the public to know Cricket and also to get many new people to be involved in the sports. For his efforts he was awarded the Anugerah Kepimpinan Sukan Negara in 2004.

In April 2004, the Bayuemas Oval, a new international cricket ground, began operations. The ground was granted the One day International status by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the first in South East Asia. The oval is now home to houses the Tuanku Ja'afar Malay Cricket Academy.

Rosmanizam's other contributions to sports include the re-formation of the Malacca Cycling Association in 1980. He held the post of secretary untill 1985 and during the period he was a council member of the national cycling federation.

In the field of journalism, he was the treasurer of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) (1986-88), Board Member of Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (1987-88), secretary of Koperasi NST (1988-91) and Financial Secretary of Sports writers association of Malaysia (1998-2001).

Many officials feel that Rosmanizam would be a good choice for the post of OCM Secretary.

RAMESH LACHMANAN, 38, is a newcomer in the international scene but his leadership qualities have caught the eyes of International Rugby Board (IRB) and Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU). He worked closely with the two bodies in successfully getting rugby into the 2016 Olympic program.

He has been closely associated with the sport since his school days in Klang High School. He played for his school, district, state and nation from 1988 to 2005.

The Malaysian Rugby Union (MRU) Secretary, a lawyer by profession, has the ambition to see rugby played professionally in our nation.

With the emergence of this New Generation Leaders, the older group others should move aside. Your services would surely be appreciated. I believe the movers in OCM would be more than willing to put your names and photographs in their Hall of Fame.