Empowering youth and connecting communities through Cruyff Court

“Being a part of this programme has not only helped enhance our team’s leadership skills, it also strengthens our understanding of our local youths and their needs within the community. I hope to see this programme extended nationwide so that we can someday hold a major tournament featuring Cruyff Court players from all over the country.” Aizat, Youth Cruyff Coach, Setiawangsa. Hasanah’s aim to deliver meaningful long-term and sustainable impact in various areas including by creating safe, inclusive and accessible public spaces for all Malaysians. In this spirit, on 27th November 2018, Hasanah together with Johan Cruyff Foundation (“JCF”) launched our 5th Cruyff Court in Malaysia in Felda Lurah Bilut, Bentong, Pahang. The launch was officiated by Yang Berhormat Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Minister of Youth and Sports (“KBS”) and Mrs. Karin Mossenlechner, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Malaysia. Cruyff Courts are public playing fields that empower children to excel in sports and in life by stimulating them to learn new skills and discover their talents. By creating a safe place for them to play, these children are encouraged to keep active by engaging in sports and in turn growing closer to their communities. Hasanah through its Cruyff courts programme aims to focus especially on children from underprivileged families and children with disabilities, to become active and inspirational members of their community. It creates space for children to play sports and will help them to discover their talents, increase their self-confidence and pick up new skills.

The youth of Felda Lurah Bilut at the opening of the neighbourhood Cruyff Court.

The launch on the 27th was accompanied by a 4-day “Cruyff Foundation Coach Course” from 26th to 29th November for 18 participants from across Malaysia. These participants were trained to be qualified coaches of Cruyff Foundation Community who would lead and organise sport activities in Cruyff Courts located in their respective communities. Rudy, a trainee coach from Kelantan said the following about the coaching programme, “This programme has greatly helped me as a community coach, allowing me to stay constantly connected to my local community. Beyond that, I also got to meet and know other Cruyff Coaches from all over the world. This has enabled me to gain a better understanding of their challenges and teaching methods, which I will adopt in my own coaching sessions with my students.”   Hasanah’s Cruyff Court programme is also aligned with the aspirations of KBS, which is to provide access to sports, nurturing the potential and encourage healthy lifestyle for the empowerment of the rural community. Hasanah hopes that Cruyff court could provide a platform to collaborate with KBS to support and empower rural youth to become engaged citizens.  At the same time, Hasanah will continue its partnership with JCF to open more courts across Malaysia. The day started with a sports carnival including an aerobics session, games between disabled children from 120 children across schools in Lurah Bilut among. The event was closed by a friendly futsal match between the KBS vs Hasanah-Felda-JCF teams and we drew 4-4 to KBS! We are hoping for a re-match soon to take the match away.