THEY were labelled as football outcasts.

But three of Raffles Institution's (RI) talented young footballers eventually found a place where they fit in.

Ho Junliang, Zenzel Chew and Koo Yijing, now all 19 and serving their National Service, never did get to play football for RI.

But their story is one that should give hope to youths in Singapore who have the sporting talent but no avenue to show it.

Because the trio found success playing for Raffles Junior College (RJC), and even won the National Inter-School Soccer A Division Boys Final in 2007.

The New Paper reported in 2005 how football wasn't available as a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) in RI, and how these football outcasts had to create a student interest group to follow their passion.

But with no support from the school, no proper facilities to play on, no proper training, things looked bleak for these boys.

That they had some talent was never in doubt - Zenzel and Yijing trained for S-League club Geylang United's Under-16 Centre of Excellence team, and Junliang even made it to the national U-15 team.

He told The New Paper: 'I felt that it was quite a waste that we never got to represent RI. Honestly speaking, looking at the players we had, there was a core bunch who were really passionate about soccer. There was a great amount of potential to be nurtured from that team.

'After we went into RJC, the team started to disintegrate because a few of them lost interest in soccer.'

Getting a chance to play for RJC though, helped Zenzel to better understand the school.

He said: 'It felt good, it helped me appreciate the environment in the school better, the whole purpose of being part of the school.'

Determination

And their determination throughout the bleak secondary school days finally paid off two years after, when they helped RJC clinch the National Inter-School Soccer A Division championship in 2007.

'It was quite a big achievement. I felt a lot of pride and we were playing against strong opponents,' Yijing said.

The New Paper reported last Monday how budding athletes can represent their schools even in a non-CCA sport.

American twins Dana and Nena Fritz, who study in Chestnut Drive Secondary School, found out that schools do not need to offer a sport as a CCA in order for its students to take part in national inter-school competitions.

And reading the article inspired Junliang to write in to The New Paper, having been in that situation before.

He said: 'I think it's a good first step. Those who are really interested have a chance to represent the school. But there's no support like training or anything from the school, and there could be problems for team sports where there's more coordination and it's harder to get the numbers.'

Having eventually found a way to pursue their passion for football, the trio had a message for budding athletes with no way of showing their talent - hang in there.

Yijing said: 'Just persevere, sooner or later you'll find an avenue to show your talent.

'Do what you really feel like doing, even if there's no support,' Zenzel added.

For Junliang, who had lobbied for football to be established as a CCA during his days studying in RI, reading about the non-CCA sport issue sparked his interest in bringing football back to RI.

'I'm going to try and start soccer up again as a CCA in RI. After reading the article in The New Paper, I thought I'd give it a shot again. Hopefully something fruitful can come out of this,' he said.

Shea John Driscoll, newsroom intern.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION SAYS:

'Students whose schools do not offer a certain CCA at the school level can still represent the school in inter-school competitions for the CCA. These students could obtain their principals' permission to be supported by and registered through the school to participate in the competition.

'In the event that schools do not have the facilities and expertise to conduct the new CCA and hence have to look for other resources, (school) principals have the autonomy to decide whether the cost of conducting the activities should be co-paid by students and a suitable quantum of co-payment. Students who are unable to afford the payment are provided assistance by the schools, so that they can participate in the CCA.

'Students wishing to participate in activities organised by external organisations, must have a main CCA in schools. Schools will not recognise activities that students take up solely for social interaction and personal self-enrichment activities such as piano lessons and subject-related enrichment classes.'

This article was first published in The New Paper.