When two Malaysian secondary school SMK Vivekananda’s football teams began preparing for this year’s District School Sports Council (MSSD) tournament, they faced a significant hurdle: they didn’t have a proper football pitch. Training had long been restricted to the school’s field surrounded by classrooms and glass windows — hardly the space for young players to sharpen their game.
The school sought help from RYTHM Foundation’s Gift of Life (GOL) initiative to lease a regulation-size pitch. With RM900 in funding, the Under-15 and Under-18 teams could train on a full field before the competition.
SMK Vivekananda is one of four schools in Kuala Lumpur participating in RYTHM’s Jaguh RF programme, which nurtures young talent in sports while building values like discipline, teamwork, and leadership. The GOL assistance added an extra boost to the school’s wider journey with Jaguh RF.
Training with Space to Grow
The difference was immediate for the students. “The sessions were more organised and ran smoothly,” the school’s senior assistant for co-curriculum activities, Norjamiah Ahmad Zubir, shared.
“The players could fully show their skills and experience playing on a proper pitch. They can perform better and show real improvement in the future,” Norjamiah said.
Access to the regulation field also allowed the teams’ coaches to structure sessions according to position and technique. The players could focus without distractions, no longer needing to share space with other activities.
At the tournament, the Under-18 team won one game and drew two, while the Under-15s celebrated one victory in their group stage. Neither advanced to the next round, but for the players, the experience was more than a scoreline.
“They felt pleased and satisfied with their training. Even though they did not qualify this time, they believe they will do better next year,” Norjamiah added.
Support Through Sport
The Head of RYTHM Foundation, Santhi Periasamy, added, “The Gift of Life initiative is about responding to real needs in our communities, no matter how big or small. By helping SMK Vivekananda access a proper football field, we fulfilled one of the key goals of Jaguh RF — to give students the space and support to grow through sport.
It’s not just about football, but about building confidence, teamwork, and resilience that will carry them far beyond the pitch.”
