The Kuala Lumpur Amateur Volleyball Association (KLAVA) was found in 1979. This year marked the 30th year of KLAVA. Therefore, we would like to take this opportunity to share with you the history of KLAVA. This KLAVA history is a special dedication to those who has worked hard for the betterment of the sport of volleyball, especially the devoted workforce in KLAVA.
Prior to 1974 Kuala Lumpur volleyball was under the administration of the state of Selangor, governed by the Selangor Amateur Volleyball Association (SAVA). In year 1974, Kuala Lumpur came under the administration of the Federal Government.
Year 1978 The SAVA affiliates reached the decision to detach the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur from SAVA.
Year 1979 The Federal Territory Amateur Volleyball Association (FTAVA) was officially approved by the Registrar of Societies as the highest governing body for volleyball in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Yg. Bhg. Dato' Ahmad Sabki bin Jahidin was elected the first president of FTAVA.
Year 1981 For the first time, FTAVA participated in the National Open Volleyball Championships held in Genting Highlands. On In the same year, FTAVA also organized the inaugural Federal Territory Volleyball Championships in Kilat Club, Jalan Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, where 15 men and 6 women's teams took part.
Year 1984 The FTAVA organized the most prestigious KL Inter-City Volleyball Invitational Tournament to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. Six teams from different countries (Bangkok, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur) participated under the patronage of the Datuk Bandar Kuala Lumpur, Yg. Bhg. Dato' Elyas bin Omar.
Thereafter, FTAVA played an active role in the development of volleyball in Kuala Lumpur and in Malaysia, organizing various competitions, coaching and refereeing courses and participating in various aged-groups national championships.
Year 1985 For its first time, FTAVA organized the 15th National youth Volleyball Championships in the Stadium Negara.
Year 1987 FTAVA changed its name to Kuala Lumpur Amateur Volleyball Association (KLAVA). In the same year, the KL women's team became the champions in the 21st National Volleyball Championships held in the TUDM, Subang, Selangor.
Year 1990 KLAVA went through a personnel reshuffle, and the new executive committee (EXCO) was elected, headed by Mr. Loy Teik Ngan from Leisure Holidays as the new President and En. Zainal Abidin Zain of DBKL as the Deputy President. Mr. Ng Poh Keong and En. Zilkifli Ishak were elected as Vice Presidents, and they were supported by a group of very devoted and dedicated EXCO members, namely En. Mohd Rosol Baharom as the Hon. Secretary, Mr. Jimmy Yeoh as the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Who Teng Sang, Mr. Chong Soon Ying, Mr. Bobby Tan, Mr. Anthony Yap, En. Zamry Zainuddin and Mr. Ricky Wong as the Hon. Auditor.
During this time, KLAVA faced various challenges in the process of reorganizing the association and putting KLAVA back on track. Nevertheless, the EXCO members persevered and contributed selflessly for the benefit of the players and the sport. Despite the hard time, KLAVA never failed to take part in the National Championships and continued to organize local tournaments and courses.
Year 1993 Mr. Loy Teik Ngan unanimously returned as President for another term (1993-1994). 1993 and 1994 proved to be better years for KLAVA as the committee has gained much experiences in managing the association.
Year 1994 The KL Boys and Girls team won 4th place in the 1994 Youth Championships held in Kajang. Two players were selected for the Asean Junior Team, namely Ding Mee Fong and Quah Chin Kiat. Both players were nominated the Best Players at the KL Youth Championships held in March 1995. Thanks to the year-round hard work by Mr. Ricky Wong and Mr. Gideon Gay.
KLAVA also launched the 1st MBF-KL Volleyball League in YMCA.
Year 1995 It was a busy year for KLAVA. After holding the Pesta Sukan Kuala Lumpur and a state level coaches course in the beginning of the year, KLAVA had agreed to hold the Rakan Muda event for Volleyball. With great support from the Majlis Sukan Kuala Lumpur, KLAVA managed to attract 122 teams, involving more than 1000 players who served off simultaneously from 22nd July to the 13th August 1995. Hats off to Mr. Ricky Wong for his hard work in making it happen.
From August 20th to 25th of 1995, KLAVA also organized the 24th National Youth Volleyball Championships in the Kompleks Belia dan Sukan Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur. It was a success.
Year 1996 KLAVA hired its very first foreign Chinese coach, Mr. Cao Ping. Mr. Cao Ping was once the China Team captain in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. In the same year, the KL boys youth team managed to clinch the first National Junior Championship in KLAVA history!
The KL boys and girls began to show talent in the national level. Some players were short-listed for the National Junior Squad. At this point, KL players of all age groups were training all year round at the Kampung Pandan Sports Center every weekend, twice a week without fail. KLAVA was running on full force.
Year 1997 Following the success from 1996, Mr. Pan Li Jun from China was hired to replace Mr. Cao Ping, who migrated to the USA to pursue coaching. Mr. Pan Li Jun was a member of the 1979 Asian Championship team representing China.
All the previous effort and hard work had not been wasted, as the KL teams finished top 4 in ALL the national championships that year.
After a year of systematic and consistent training, both KL Men and Women senior teams were ready to take on the 30th National Championship with the Gold medals in mind. As a result, the KL men's team won the National Open Championship for the second time. On the other hand, the women's team only managed a Bronze that came with a valuable lesson learnt in a hard way. In the preliminary round robin, the ladies gave the defending champion, the Sarawak Team, a run for their money in a hard fought 5 set match. Despite that, the women's team stumped and suffered a heart broken loss against the Pulau Pinang team in the subsequent match. As a consequence, it gave the Sarawak team (still undefeated then) a choice to either play the Pulau Pinang team fair and square, aiming for a win, but risk facing the KL team again in the Grand Final, OR to go the easier way, which is to lose by choice and shun the KL womens' team out of the Grand Final, denying the KL women a chance to fight for the Gold medal altogether. It is a dignity call. Unfortunately, the defending champion chose the latter. Lesson learnt.
Loh Chon Wai from the men's team was selected as the Best Blocker and See Cheng Swee (better known as Ammar See) was selected as the Best Player. Teoh Kwan Kee from the women's team was selected as the Best Spiker.
Both the KL boys and girls won Bronze in the 26th National Junior Championship.
Year 1998 From May 26th to June 13th, the 1st ever school league in Malaysia was launched with the sponsorship from MBF TeenSaver Club. The league attracted 93 teams from 4 zones in Wilayah Persekutuan participated in the league, eyeing the mouth watering RM15,000 prize money.
On the 20th and the 21st of June, the KL women's team received the Singapore women's team for 2 friendly matches. The KL women won by 3-1 on the first day, but lost by 3-1 on the second day.
Several coaching courses were carried out, such as the FIVB Level I Coaches' Course that was held with the cooperation of the FIVB Development Centre and MAVA and the 8th State Level Coaches' Course. On top of that, a Coaches' Clinic was given by the honorable Mr. Ken Maeda on the 17th of May 1998 in the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex. Mr. Ken Maeda was the head coach of the Japanese women's team on the Seoul Olympics in year 1998. A clinic was also conducted to the Kuala Lumpur State players the day before (16th May 1998).
The KL teams continued to collect silverwares in the national championships in most of the age groups. For the 27th National Junior Championship, the boys' team maintained a Bronze and the girls' team improved to Silver.
Teoh Kwan Kee (180cm centre spiker), Wong Wai Wai (173cm centre spiker), Nur Haizreen Md Husin (168cm open spiker), Josephine Goh (168 setter), Monica Sinsua (168cm sub-setter) from the girls' team, and Choo Aik Mun (195cm centre spiker), Teoh Check Jin (188 centre spiker), Jonathan Lim (194cm open spiker), Benjamin Chong (183cm setter) from the boys' team were short-listed in the National Junior Team.
In the 5th Under 15 National Championship, the boys managed a 4th placing, whereas the girls won Bronze. Teoh Kwan Kee from the girls' team was selected as the Best Spiker and Josephine Goh was selected as the Best Setter. 3 girls and 4 boys from KL were selected to attend the Camp Bakat.
1998 was a special year for the KL women's team, as the city ladies finally emerged as Champion in the 31st National Open Championship held in Kluang, Johor. After the heart broken experience from the previous year, the players were determined to redeem their dignity. This time, the KL ladies and the defending champion, Sarawak, met in the Final, and the city ladies won by 3-1. It was meaningful because it was won by all home grown KL players. It was extra meaningful because the championship cup was a result of the great support from KLAVA, along with the coaches and players' hard work.
Year 1999 The 1st Kuala Lumpur Beach Volleyball Championship was held in Bukit Jalil, with a total of 3 circuits (Feb, Apr, June).
The Kuala Lumpur Under-12 boys team won Silver in the National Under-12 Championship. Lye Jun Xiong were voted the Best Offensive Player. In the 28th National Junior Championship, the KL girls placed 2nd.
In 1999, the National Sports Council initiated a 3-year training program to prepare for the 2001 SEA Games. Many Kuala Lumpur players were short-listed to join the program, representing the country to compete in the international level. (Men: Jonathan Lim. Women: Diong Mee Lee, Ong Siew Meei, Nur Haizreen, Josephine Goh Shiew Dee, Teoh Kwan Kee, Wong Wai Wai, Yeoh Mei Yan)
Year 2000 Year 2000 had the best achievement in a single calendar year since 1979. The Under-15 girls team won the 8th National Under 15 Championship in Sibu, Sarawak. The Under-21 KL Team won Silver after Sarawak in the 8th Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) held in Pulau Pinang.
The senior girls once again proved their supremacy by retaining the National Open title in the 32nd National Open Volleyball Championship held in Kuantan, Pahang. The team was undefeated and beaten the Sarawak team twice, once in the preliminary round and once in the Final by 3-1. The champion team consisted of players as young as 14 years old, and 8 players that were selected into the 2001 SEA Games squad. They were Ong Siew Meei (28), Wong Wai Wai (20), Teoh Kwan Kee (18), Josephine Goh (18), Lim Lay Kuan (15), Yeoh Mei Yan (14), Nur Haizreen (20), all trained and groomed in Kuala Lumpur, and Diong Mee Lee (27).
As the result of KLAVA's outstanding accomplishments, KLAVA had attained another historical achievement - KLAVA women's team won the best team award in Kuala Lumpur Sports Council awarding ceremony, On top of that, Mr. Kenny Ng Poh Keong won the Anugerah Pegawai Sukan Terbaik (Best Sports Administrator award) in Kuala Lumpur Sports Council (MSKL). The 2 awards won in one year are unprecedented, as volleyball has never won any awards given by the Kuala Lumpur Sports Council.
Year 2001 The Kuala Lumpur Under 14 Tournament was held on the school level, attracting 5 boys and 8 girls' teams. On the National level, the Under-14 boys team won Gold, while the girls won Silver in the 1st National Under-14 Championship. The Under 16 girls also emerged as the National Champion in the 1st National Under 16 Championship.
Again, the Kuala Lumpur Junior Girl’s Team won the 2001 Best Team Award in 2001/02 Kuala Lumpur Sports Council awarding ceremony. Mr. Ricky Chow was also nominated as the best officer.
As for the international level, the Malaysian Women's Team, half of which are represented by KL players, won Gold in the Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia, and Gold in the Thang Long Cup in Vietnam. It was the first Gold medal ever won my Malaysia in the South East Asia level. In the 2001 SEA Games, Malaysia men's team won Silver (KL player: Jonathan Lim).
On the same year, with the recommendation from the former KL China coach, Mr. Cao Ping, Teoh Kwan Kee was offered the NCAA Athletic scholarship to study in the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Maryland, USA. Throughout her 4 years in UMBC, she represented the varsity team and actively participated in the Division I collegiate volleyball, making an impact in the Northeast Conference (NEC) and the America East Conference (AEC).
Year 2002 The Under 16 boys were 3rd and girls were 4th placing in the 2nd National Under 16 Championship. As for the 29th National Under 20 Junior Championship, the boys placed 4th and the girls placed 3rd.
KLAVA worked together with the YMCA to send 2 teams (1 boy's and 1 girl's) to Asian, Korea to participate in the Interreligious Peace Sports Festival (IPSF). The girl's team managed to get Silver, losing to the Philippines National Team in the final match. The boy's team got 4th place.
Year 2003 The KL Women's Senior team successfully secured their 3rd consecutive National Open Volleyball Championship when the team won Gold in the 33rd National Open Volleyball Championship held in Bukit Jalil Sports School. Yeoh Mei Yan (17) was unanimously voted as the Most Valuable Player. In the same tournament, the KL Women's Senior team also won 2nd place in the MCA cup challenge, falling to the All-star Ex-National Selection team-Xdolphine that featured mostly current or ex-national players, in a hard-fought 5 set match.
In the 30th National Under 20 Junior Championship, the boys won Silver and the girls appeared as champion. KL girls finished 3rd and the boys 4th in the 2nd National Under 14 Championship. As for the 3rd National Under 16 Championship, the boys placed 2nd while the girls placed 3rd.
Again, both boys and girls (under 23) also participated in the IPSF in Asan, Korea, where the boy's team fought their way to the Final and lost to the Philippines National Team. The girl's team placed 4th, losing to the Russian team in the 3rd/4th placing match.
Year 2004 In the 2004 SUKMA in Kuala Pilah, Seremban, the Kuala Lumpur girls' team ended up on the podium, with a Silver achievement. Yeoh Mei Yan was voted the best receiver and Shafina Bazilah was voted the best server.
The KL boy's team also participated in the IPSF for the 3rd time.
Year 2005 Dato’ Loy Teik Ngan ended his 14 years glorious reign as the President of KLAVA (1991-2004). Mr. Huang Soon Fook took over the presidency for the term 2005 to 2006. KLAVA was relatively inactive for 2 years.
Year 2006 Despite the stagnancy of the association, many players took the initiative to stay active in the sport. The women’s senior team funded themselves (occasionally with the help of a few KLAVA exco members) to take part in several tournaments, such as the UTM Open, the Seremban Open, and the Johor Open, also known as “Kejohanan Bola Tampar Piala Merdeka VAJB 2006”. The team clinched Gold Medals in all three tournaments.
Year 2007 2007 marked the rebirth of KLAVA, with the election of the 15th KLAVA Executive Committee 2007/2008, headed by the honorable Datuk Benny Hoe Tze Fook as President, Dato' Syed Hussein Alhabshee as Deputy President, and assisted by many experienced and capable EXCO members.
The new KLAVA EXCO is determined to revive the sport of Volleyball in Kuala Lumpur, and get the ball rolling again.
Year 2008 (coming soon … )
Year 2009
Year 2010
Year 2011
Year 2012
Year 2013
Year 2014
KLAVA Past & Present President
