Redemption is sweet for Marsiling Secondary School as they clinch B Div sepak takraw title

SINGAPORE – For one whole year, Muhammad Herzy Khaliff waited for his moment of redemption.

On March 7, 2024, he was in the Marsiling Secondary School team who lost 2-0 to Woodlands Secondary in the National School Games B Division sepak takraw final.

That defeat at the Yio Chu Kang Sports Hall hurt Herzy, who admitted to crying after his hopes of winning gold were dashed.

Having clinched back-to-back C Division titles in 2022 and 2023 with the school, Herzy, who is taking his O levels in 2025, was determined not to let his student-athlete career end on a losing note.

On March 10, just over a year after that defeat, Herzy was back at the same venue, but this time there was a different ending as the 15-year-old captained his school to the B Division title with a 2-1 victory against Naval Base Secondary School.

Herzy, who was jumping for joy as he was surrounded by his teammates after the win, said: “Last year hurt us so much. I was crying and crying and I even had to skip school the next few days because I just did not want to leave home. It was painful because we trained so hard to win, but we couldn’t do it.

“This year was really about redemption for us. The Secondary 4 boys all told ourselves that we must end off as champions because, for many of us, this was the last chance and I am so proud of everyone for achieving this.”

Herzy, who credited coach Jamaluddin Suaip and the team’s teachers-in-charge Rahidah Tajammul Shah and Khusairi Shahlan for their support and motivation,