Sukma hockey players raise preparations
by Lester Mekan Baha, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 25, 2012, Friday
KUCHING: Sarawak could count on the women hockey team to deliver medal at Sukma XV as the squad has the right element to give other teams a run for their money.
State women hockey coach Sivasubramaniam revealed that the squad is currently in their high tempo training phase and would be taking part in the Raja Norashikin Cup, an international tournament, in Seremban from June 5 to 12, as their final training stage.
“Apart from Singapore and Thailand, 14 teams from throughout the country have confirmed competing in the tournament which is named after the only woman deputy president in Malaysian Hockey Association (MHA) line up,” Sivasubramaniam told The Borneo Post yesterday.
The coach also disclosed that in the final phase of training, the girls are taught new hockey tactical skills; the Low reverse hit, Argentine reverse hit and shielding techniques (blocking).
“The low reverse hit technique is new in the country but has been widely used in European tournaments. We will apply this to further strengthen the defence line while the Argentine reverse, the skill that started in Argentina, will be used by the front lines to sharpen their scoring skills,” Sivasubramaniam explained.
He commented that his players with an average age of 17-years old will be available for another two more Sukma games.
“Not only that the players are talented, they are very disciplined and committed in training.
Every day, they are already at the pitch by 6am, starting by singing the state’s anthem and warming up. When I arrived they are ready for serious training,” he complimented.
In addition, Sivasubramaniam said that Sarawak’s women hockey president Datin Mary Saadiah is a very capable leader who has given her full cooperation and support to develop the team to be among the top hockey teams in the country.
“With her leading the association, Sarawak hockey is heading towards the right direction as she knows what to do to build a formidable team, especially when the state has a lot of ‘uncut diamonds’, potential talents to be trained,” enthused Sivasubramaniam who has six years experience coaching the state women hockey team.
He revealed that as the team enters the final phase of intensive training, three of his main players- Kafelina Eve, Shelly Bayang and Linda Liwek, had to be rested due to injuries.
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