YESTERYEARS: Former state and national sepaktakraw coach, Sharkawi Ramli (circle) posing with members of the Malaysian team during the 1981 New Delhi Asian Games in India. Sharkawi, a retired 68-year-old senior administrative officer with SEDC was one of the national’s panel of coaches from 1975 to 1989.
KUCHING:Sarawak used to be the sepaktakraw sports powerhouse in Malaysia back in the 1960s and today, the relevant parties should have concerted efforts to revive the game to its former glory.
Former state and national coach, Haji Sharkawi Rambli said Sarawak has been active with the promotion and development of sepaktakraw since 1965 and he expressed optimism for the game to have the potential to uplift Malaysia’s image at international scene.
The former senior administrative officer of Sarawak State Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) said with proper planning and execution, the promotion and development of sepaktakraw can achieve success just like in the 1970s.
According to him, Sarawak players had already competed at national level since 1973 and some had even represented Malaysia at international championships held at ASEAN and Asian level.
Over the past decades sepaktakraw has grown in popularity even among western countries but still it is not included in the Olympics.
For the record, Sarawak was also the first state in Malaysia to introduce women sepaktakraw in the early 1980s and was the first to host the national championship in 1988.
Haji Sharkawi who obtained his advance sepaktakraw coaching qualification from Malaysia Sepaktakraw Association (PSM) in 1972 was first appointed as national coach in 1975 for Thailand King’s Cup international sepaktakraw championship held in Bangkok where all ASEAN countries took part.
In 1978, another local coach, Sarbini Hashim obtained his advance sepaktakraw coaching qualification from PSM.
“We are indeed proud to be selected to represent the country and at that time it showed how our sepaktakraw players are being recognised for skills and talent,” said Haji Sharkawi who was also national coach for the international sepaktakraw exhibition matches of the 1981 New Delhi Asian Games in India.
The following year, he was again appointed as national coach for the 1982 SEA Games held at Manila, Philippines.
It was the first time the single regu event was introduced at the SEA Games where Malaysia won but Thailand went on to win the overall team event.
Sharkawi’s was given the honour to coach national team for the 1985 Bangkok SEA Games held in Thailand and he went on to become one of Sarawak’s panel of coaches until early 1990s.
“As I recalled, at that time sepaktakraw in Sarawak was of high standard and we continue to produce good players as well as coaches because the game was very popular among the people,” he said.
The 68-year-old retiree had also been invited to conduct talks and seminars on sepaktakraw in neighbouring Brunei, Thailand and the Philippines with the aim to promote the game at among ASEAN countries.
In 1989, he was national coach for the women’s team which competed in the invitational Aquino Cup women sepaktakraw championship held at Manila, Philippines.
The national squad was represented by Kuching-based players namely Sabiah Sadan, Norhayati Tan, Noraini Pon and Norlida.
They went on to become champion in the inaugural event and in the same year Noraini was again selected to represent Malaysia in SEA Games held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Malaysia finished third placing behind Thailand and Indonesia.
State players like Narawi Taha, Ahmad Saidi and the late Sharkawi Saie had also donned national colours at international competitions.
And since 1968, Narawi together with Sharkawi had also been invited to become referees at national events
“It is suffice to say that Sarawak has produced a lot of talented players and good coaches over 30 years ago…we must not forget the past colourful history of how sepaktakraw has earned us so much respect at national and international level,” Sharkawi concluded.