About 23 athletic coaches and teachers are currently attending the 1st IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) CECS Level II 2010 athletics coach course, which commenced yesterday following a launching ceremony.
The guest-of-honour, Haji Mohammad bin Penglima Asgar Dato Paduka Hj Abdullah, the Director of Youth and Sports, launched the course.

Haji Mohammad in his welcoming speech said: “It is hoped that with the course, it will help increase the number of quality coaches and teachers who are capable of nurturing young athletes to a higher level of at the regional and international arenas.”

“It is also hope that the youth athletes development programme will fulfill the requirements of the development, progress and success of national athletes in obtaining more medals for the country in the future.”

The Director of Youth and Sports also outlined the objective of the course by saying “the course is to provide guidance to local coaches, physical education teachers to learn about athletics, especially on basic athletic training programme and also training programme for developing athletes. It also served to allow coaches and teachers to prepare training programmes with the knowledge gained in the course.”

Major Md Talip bin Hj Mohd Tahir, the president of the Brunei Darussalam Amateur Athletic Association in his speech said: “The participants will have to sit a number of examination at the end of the course. As a motivation, those who can pass the examination for level 2 and continuously be active will be given an opportunity to further their studies overseas, with the support and assistance from Brunei Darussalam Amateur Athletic Association.”

Therefore he urged the participants of the course to make good use of the time and knowledge to help produce young athletes that have bright potential for the future.

Meanwhile, Bia Lumintuarso, the IAAF Course Director stressed on the importance to get the level II certificates in order to move up to Level III and it’s a process that all athletic coaches must go through to go up to Level five and academy.

He also said Brunei Darussalam have good coaches who has indepth understanding of the system. Currently, Brunei have three Level IV coaches.

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