SINGAPORE — For eight years, Endeavour Primary School’s rugby side worked towards the ultimate dream of winning the national schools championships

The belief never wavered in the team – not when they came agonisingly close with a second runners-up finish in 2013, or when they failed to make it past the preliminary rounds last year. 

Nor did it falter when they took on Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) – seeking a third consecutive Under-11 title – in the final earlier this month.

On July 13, the history books at Endeavour were rewritten when they brought home their first ever rugby schools crown after a pulsating 7-5 victory.

It is a remarkable achievement for a neighbourhood school team that was established only in 2009 – just a year after the school itself was founded.

The initiative was taken by the school’s head of department for physical education, Yaidi Mohamad, who had never played the sport but viewed rugby, where players are often tackled to the ground, as representative of life.

“You have the choice to stay down or get up and proceed with what you are supposed to do next,” the 41-year-old told TODAY. 

He had to educate students and their parents on the game to get their buy-in and the team going, but that did not deter him and coach Peerose Shah from setting lofty goals.

The latter was roped in to helm the newly-formed side, with Yaidi having known him during his time at Yung An Primary (now Lakeside Primary after a merger in 2003), where Peerose was rugby coach. 

A former national player who has “winning in my blood”, the 45-year-old came into an environment with zero rugby culture and immediately targeted the North Zone title.

Endeavour Primary's teachers-in-charge for rugby Teo Kai Ling (left) and Sakinah Zainal Abidin (right), principal Pek Kwee Lan (second from left) and Yaidi Mohamad, the school’s head of department for physical education (second from right). Photo: Najeer Yusof

BELIEF AND SUPPORT

After just four months of training, Endeavour finished third in the zonal championships that very year and went on to make the quarter-finals of the nationals.

“After we did that, I said to Yaidi, ‘We have to become national champions’,” Peerose recalled. “That’s how I roll – if you have no ambition, dreams will not come true.”

After coming in second in 2010 and third again in 2011, Endeavour finally took home the zonal title in 2012, fuelled by belief – a critical attribute that Peerose puts their ultimate national success down to.\

“It all starts from you,” he explained. “If you are sceptical and have even a tinge of doubt, you are managing human beings – they can see it, it will rub off (on them). 

“But it must be sincere, not (just) lip service. Then, people will buy in and it will filter down. Especially in a team sport with teachers and parents (involved), there is probably a minimum of 60 people in a school that you have to share the belief with.”

These include Yaidi and teachers-in-charge, Sakinah Zainal Abidin and Teo Kai Ling, co-coach Firdaus Din and principal Pek Kwee Lan.

“The whole team, the coach and ourselves, we've always believed that the pupils can do it and that's why we always push for consistency in coming for training and always giving 100 per cent,” Yaidi said.

Sakinah, 26, who has helped to oversee the team for five years, added: “The question we keep asking them is, ‘are you hungry?’ – and they are always hungry for more.”

“When they really want it and we believe in them, that’s how they achieve it (titles),” said Tan, 24, who only joined the team recently. 

Outside of training, Sakinah and Teo, who both teach English and Mathematics, also assist the players in their schoolwork when they miss classes during the competition season.

Caleb Soo, 10, from Endeavour Primary School tackling a player from Sembawang Primary School' during a friendly game at Endeavour Primary School on July 21. Photo by Najeer Yusof

KIDS HAVE TO ENJOY

Getting across the concept of belief to primary school kids requires a different approach than for older ages and Peerose, who has coached various age groups up to national level, is aware.

The key, he says, is to “find the enjoyment within them” as kids just want to have fun and place less emphasis on winning as adults do.

This includes engaging the players in creative ways, like naming certain training drills and moves after characters in movies that are all the rage – for example, calling a line-out an “Optimus Prime” during Transformers season, and changing it up when another film, say the Avengers, comes out.

“It’s not about what you perceive as enjoyable, it’s about what triggers them because their brains are wired differently,” Peerose explained. “You just have to understand them.”

Yaidi summed it up: “We have to make winning enjoyable for them… Before they entered the (pitch for the) final, our last message was, ‘this is your last game for today – go and have fun’.”

The Endeavour boys certainly relished their dream run to this year’s U11 championships to their first ever final, where they then upset traditional powerhouses ACS (Junior) – a term Peerose does not believe in.

“I perceive them as just another rugby team because I believe in my teams,” he asserted. “At the end of the day, it's 10 children versus 10 children… belief is the most powerful tool.

“My philosophy is that I have faith in all the players I coach, if I don't have faith I won't coach you… Of course, along the line you teach and cultivate what's needed to make them better.” 

Haiyyen Danish, who has been in the team for the past three and a half years, noted that they had trained “even harder” this time after last year’s disappointment.

“We train twice a week for two hours after school,” the 11-year-old said. “We thought we had a chance (to win) because we won the North Zone (for a fourth time this year). We took it one game at a time and were not afraid even though we are smaller (in size) than other teams.”

Vice-captain Muhd Aaqil, 11, who has played for the same period as Danish, said: “We put in a lot of effort during friendlies and training. There was a lot of teamwork (that helped us win) and I want to thank the teachers, parents and the school.”

He added about coach Peerose: “He’s funny, though fierce sometimes. He is a good coach!”

Endeavour Primary's Haiyyen Danish holding onto the ball during the school's friendly game against Sembawang Primary School. Photo by Najeer Yusof

LIFE VALUES

Endeavour’s educators hope that the values inculcated in the players through rugby will stay with them for life.

“That is the most rewarding part of this journey,” Yaidi said. “We see it in our ex-players, who are doing very well in their own secondary schools, where some are captains and have even represented Singapore at U-17 and U-19 level.”

For Sakinah, the surreal memories of the players rushing over to celebrate with her upon the final whistle is something she will never forget.

“They looked at us for a reaction and when they saw us jumping and screaming, then they realised they had won,” she smiled. “When I saw the boys coming to me, I think that was an affirmation of five years' worth of effort. 

“As a teacher, that is what I want – to see the children happy with what they have achieved, all based on their own hard work, discipline and commitment. 

“After that, they went to shake hands with their opponents, which also showed respect… it means we've done well and educated them and (successfully) shared the values we believe in.”

Endeavour is “serious” about its co-curricular activities (CCAs), according to Principal Pek, who sees it as a platform to develop social and emotional competencies. 

“We make sure they are well run and (that) children…can develop their interest and talents,” she said. “We want to push them as best as we can… (and let them) know that if you work hard, persevere and work together, anything is possible.”

Coach Peerose has already set the bar higher for his team of champions to endeavour towards.

“I believe that Endeavour can become a powerhouse,” he declared. “After we won, we had a conversation with the boys – we believe in becoming great champions and that means the ability to win the championship three years in a row. 

“That is the new belief – so we are not going to stop here.”

Ali Hilman, 11, from Endeavour Primary School running with the ball as he is chased by players from Sembawang Primary School's rugby team during a friendly game at Endeavour Primary School on 21th July 2017. Photo by Najeer Yusof