The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
- Centre for aspiring footballers
- Favourite kampung dishes for Ramadan buffet
- About 1,500 throng Assumption Chapel to celebrate
| Centre for aspiring footballers Posted: 22 Aug 2011 01:51 AM PDT JOHOR BARU: The 1Malaysia Cardiff City Club (1MCC) plans to open a National Development Centre (NDC) at Putrajaya in September to provide facilities and assistance for aspiring young local footballers. Club chairman Datuk Chan Tien Ghee said the club would open five satellite centres elsewhere in the country, with Johor, Kedah and Kelantan being high on the list of potential locations. "We hope to engage full time coaches and personnel in these centres to monitor the progress and talent of these young footballers," he said during the 1MCC-Cardiff City Football Club Community Tour 2011 here. At the event, eight professional coaches from Cardiff City held a one-day coaching clinic for over 150 primary and secondary students from more than 40 schools statewide. "We are still in the midst of finalising the details including the number of young footballers that will be enrolled in the centres," Chan said. He added that the main objective of setting up the NDC and the satellite centres was to groom a pool of talent in the football fraternity for the country. Meanwhile, one of the coaches, Scott Young, was full of praise for the young footballers that attended the clinic, describing them as "enthusiastic and keen to learn". "Properly structured training is key to develop the talent in Malaysia," he said adding that the passion displayed by the children was plain to see. One of the students who took part in the clinic, Muhd Azwaj Abd Razak, 13, from SMK Simpang Renggam said that he was excited when he first learnt about this opportunity to train with professional coaches from the Bluebells. He recalled that one of the useful tips provided by the coaches was to always control the ball well as that would make it difficult for the opponents to win back possession. |
| Favourite kampung dishes for Ramadan buffet Posted: 22 Aug 2011 01:50 AM PDT KUANTAN: Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort is enticing city dwellers to break fast and rediscover kampung style dishes at its Ramadan buffet spread here. Its executive chef Pari Subramaniam said Malaysia was famous worldwide for its great food. "So, it is only fitting that our wonderful traditional cuisine be the 'star' of our Ramadan buffet,'' he said here recently. He added there would be three rotating menus throughout the promotion. Each buffet will feature over 100 of the best dishes that Malaysia had to offer, Pari said. The buffet, from 6.30pm to 10pm is priced at RM68 for adults and RM34 for children aged between five and 12. The spread will showcase the best local dishes infused with the freshest ingredients with some classic must-tries such as 'nasi ulam' (steamed rice mixed with an assorted of herbs and leafy greens), the hearty Bukhari Rice, Roasted Chicken Rice doused in the chef's concoction of light soy sauce and natural sweetness, succulent Roast Whole Lamb with Rosemary Sauce and Grilled Squid with Delicate Percik Sauce (coconut gravy cooked with spices and chillies). There are also stalls serving the perennially delicious Penang mee rebus, grilled fish, roti canai, murtabak, assorted yong tau foo and many other delectable delights. For a memorable sweet ending, the dessert table awaits, laden with sumptuous pastries, fresh-cut fruits and traditional favourites. Guests will also be entertained with the traditional and melodious Malay music of 'ghazal' while enjoying the panoramic view of South China Sea at its Kampung Restaurant. A private dining room is available for reservations of 40 persons or above. Prices are just RM58 for adults and RM29 for children aged between five and 12. Those who are interested can call 09-518 1234. |
| About 1,500 throng Assumption Chapel to celebrate Posted: 22 Aug 2011 01:48 AM PDT Malacca: The Feast of the Assumption, known as the 'sugar cane feast' by the Assumption Chapel Portuguese-Eurasian Catholic community of Praya Lane of Jalan Banda Hilir drew a large crowd including residents of the Portuguese Settlement and outstation devotees. Some 1,500 devotees packed the quaint little Assumption Chapel with a large number spilling out into the side and back compound to witness the hour-long plus Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr. Michael Mannayagam. The late evening service culminated with a procession bearing the statue of Virgin Mary followed by a pot-luck fellowship and Portuguese cultural, song and dance performances. A unique aspect of this feast unlike others commemorated in Catholic churches around the country, was the generous display of sugar cane stalks at the facade of the chapel and also around the compound. The stalks following the service were blessed,cut and distributed together with clusters of 'bunga rampai' (scented flowers) to all in attendance. This tradition of displaying sugar cane stalks has been kept alive since the chapel was built in the late 1880's, after the 154-year Dutch occupation of Malacca in 1641 following the downfall of the Portuguese. The celebration's organising committee chairman Martin Theseira, a long time resident of Praya Lane said local Catholics who were Portuguese-Eurasian community members were forced to go 'underground' for fear of reprisals from Dutch officials during their occupation of Malacca beginning in1641. "During the early years of the Dutch occupation, there was a large Catholic community mainly made up of Portuguese community members living in Praya Lane and Banda Hilir. "They fervently prayed to the Virgin Mary. "Large sugar cane plantations also abounded these two areas in particular. "For the locals, the plantations offered a safe haven where they gathered to conduct nightly worship and offered devotional prayers. Succeeding generations after learnning the plight of their forefathers, chose a novel way to commemorate the 'protection' of their ancestors in the sugar cane plantations, where their faith was kept alive and steadfast. Sometime in the late 1880's when the Assumption Chapel was built in Praya Lane, Portuguese Catholics residing in the area initiated the 'sugar cane feast' which still holds good annually to this very day. Theseira said in bygone years, apart from sugar stalks being used to decorate the facade of the chapel and its compound, bunches of wild ferns and young coconut leaves would also be affixed. Nevertheless, the sugar cane decoration aspect lives on and the younger generation are now aware of the sacrifices and steadfastness their ancestors plodded on with to keep their family faith thriving and in good standing, he added. |
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