By NABILA AHMAD (From The Star)
A day under the hot sun did not deter the boy scouts from SK Bandar Tenggara 1 to win the state-level uniformed body marching competition held in Kulaijaya, Johor, recently.
Patrol leader Ahmad Ridhwan Jamil, 12 attributed team spirit as the main factor for his troop’s success in winning the coveted challenge trophy.
“To be successful, it is important to listen to our coach and the teachers as they know better,” he said.
Ahmad Ridhwan added that this was the first time he had led his patrol to victory.
Best of the rest: The winners from Sekolah Kebangsaan Bandar Tenggara 1 who represented the district of Kulaijaya taking a group photo.
“I am a scout and have always wanted to be a patrol leader in a marching competition,” he said.
SK Bandar Tenggara 1 scoutmaster and trainer Md Salam Rohani said his troops practised daily for half an hour since January to prepare for the competition.
“They are very committed and this is the reason why we won the state-level competition nine years in a row,” he said.
Md Salam added that SK Bandar Tenggara 1 had also won the national-level marching competition four times.
“I think this time, we stand a good chance gaining the top position at the next national-level competition,” he said.
Showing discipline: The third runner up for the commpetition was from Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Kemanjuan who represented the district of Batu Pahat.
The scoutmaster said his troop has a strength of 31 patrol boys.
With their victory, SK Bandar Tenggara 1 will represent Johor at the next national-level marching event.
Second place in the marching competition went to SK Bandar T6 from Kluang while the third runner-up title was clinched by SK Seri Kemanjuan in Batu Pahat.
At the closing ceremony Kulai district education officer Ali Bahrom said a total of 10 schools from the state had participated in the competition.
“Congratulations to all the winners and to those who did not win, please learn from your mistakes and never give up,” he advised.