By V. Vijayakumar
For the past 40 years, R. Mano has been coaching footballing talents in Ipoh for free.
The ex-SUK employee holds his coaching clinics at the field along Jalan Ng Weng Hup in First Garden.
If you see an old red Proton Satria parked in the vicinity, then he is there conducting his coaching sessions.
His sessions are held every weekend for kids for the ages of four to 18-years-old.
Now retired, Mano aged 63, sees it as a way of giving back to the community.
On several occasions, parents are seen accompanying their kids to the training sessions too.
On a good day, there are some 25 to 30 kids attending his coaching session.
“The kids range from preschoolers to boys who are still studying or those who are already working.
“At times the parents are there to observe their training normally held from 5pm to 7pm weather permitting”, said Mano to Ipoh Hyperlocal.
He also added that with the advent of social media, many kids are preoccupied with their handphones and neglect mingling with their friends from different races in their age group.
“Not only do they miss out on social interaction but also on healthy and outdoor living”, he added.
Mano’s main motivation in carrying out these footballing sessions is to see these youngsters grow up and represent the state or even at the national level.
With no donors or sponsors for his clinics, Mano bears all the costs of the equipment needed for his sessions.
His teems also take part regularly in local tournaments. To motivate them, he also takes the kids out for a fine dinner.
Those who are keen to take up Mano’s coaching classes can contact him directly at 012-555-5135.