Andrew Gopal beamed with pride as he surveyed the football field at Ulu Klang Recreation Club (UKRC), which resembled the baize of a snooker table.
Green, flat, and free of sand, the field’s immaculate condition reflects the community’s dedication after a 22-year struggle to reclaim the green space from the Selangor government.
Their hard-fought victory will be celebrated this weekend as UKRC hosts the 18th UKRC International Soccer 9s tournament on home turf for the first time since 2016.
Throughout the lengthy battle to reclaim the field, UKRC held tournaments in nearby stadiums. The tournament was first held in 2001.
There were no tournaments between 2020 and 2022 due to Covid-19, and the club decided against holding last year’s event as the field wasn’t ready.
“It has been a drawn-out battle with the state government, which finally ended when it recognised the club’s rights to its football field on Feb 9, 2022. The process was completed on Oct 14, 2022,” said Andrew, a former UKRC president.
“We had a lot of work to do to restore the pitch after regaining control from the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council on Nov 1, 2022, nine years after ceding it.
“Our members painstakingly removed nearly 30 truckloads of sand from the pitch before reseeding it. We were patient, and it paid off.”
He added that UKRC was known for its pristine football pitch and a fun tournament where people from all walks of life, both local and international, could mingle, enjoy good food and drinks, and listen to live music.
Believing that the pitch needed time to ‘breathe’, the club decided against holding a tournament last year.
“We wanted our return ‘home’ to reflect the tournament’s reputation for having one of the best pitches around,” said Gopal.
Club members spent RM80,000 on field restoration and another RM40,000 on restroom refurbishment. The club will host nine teams in this weekend’s tournament.
“We survive on donations from club members. Everyone chips in to make this club our place,” said Gopal.
“I can’t wait to see my old football buddies this weekend.”
Besides UKRC, the participating teams include Youngsters FC (Brunei), Koalas International (Australia), Kixx Veteran (Sabah), Penampang Old Boys (Sabah), Penang Sports Club (Penang), Malacca Club Veterans (Melaka), Malaysian Grasshoppers (Kuala Lumpur), STG Veterans (Kuala Lumpur), and Bright & Bright Masters (Kuala Lumpur).
Competition director Tan Wai Cheong is equally excited to welcome the teams and is confident of attracting more entries next year.
“After four years, we are back in our homeground. I’m thrilled that we managed to get a team from Brunei this year,” said Tan.
“We used to have entries from Australia and Indonesia. I’m confident they will return next year, now that everyone knows the tournament is back ‘home’.”
UKRC exemplifies a club that nurtures grassroots football while fostering a strong sense of community.
Tan underscored this by announcing UKRC’s plans to resume its junior football programme.
“Yes, we need to start from scratch, but the community is eager for both the veterans’ tournament and the junior development programme,” said Tan.
“This club is for everyone, young and old, and we hope to host more events on this field,” he added.
