The Sukma-bound state women’s sepak takraw team and coaches posing for a photograph during their training session last Wednesday at their training centre in Petra Jaya.
Sarawak banking on women’s squad to bring home the team gold
KUCHING: The Sarawak sepak takraw teams are looking to the spirit of Ngap Sayot to guide them to glory in Sukma XVII, Perlis from May 24 to June 4.
Head coach Rashidi Solek, who is a strong admirer of the Ngap Sayot battle-cry which is synonymous with the Sarawak’s fighting spirit in sports, hopes that it would fire up the fighting spirit of his players.
“All sports teams in Sarawak should adopt the Ngap Sayot battle-cry and fighting spirit. It’s our pride and we want that sort of thing in the state sepak takraw teams as well,” he told The Borneo Post recently during a training session at the training centre in Petra Jaya.
It was in 1980s when the Ngap Sayot battle-cry was first heard of and during that time Sarawak fielded an all-Sarawakian team under the guidance of Awang Mahyan Awang Mohamad to compete in the local league and Malaysia Cup competition.
Sarawak were transformed from football whipping boys to a force to be reckoned with in Malaysian football, with their players being highly motivated to play just for the sake of being proud to represent their beloved state.
Years after the Awang Mahyan era has ended, the Ngap Sayot battle-cry was still used until today and Rashidi wants that spirit to be ever present in the state sepak takraw teams as well.
Rashidi said Sarawak will be banking on the women’s team to win at least one gold medal in Perlis.
He hoped that with retention of three players from the Pahang Sukma, Sarawak will have enough firepower to see off the challenges from the other states.
“We are not looking down on any teams competing during the games but I certainly think
that our women’s team have a realistic chance of winning the gold medal in the team event,” he said.
The women’s team captured the silver medal in the team event at Sukma XV two years ago.
Although Rashidi did not set any target for the men’s team as all the players are still new, he does expect them to have a respectable finish in the competition.
“Our men’s team are a newly-assembled team and we are preparing them for Sukma 2016. This year is our opportunity to see how well they fare against the other states,” commented Rashidi.
He hoped that they will spring a surprise by winning at least a bronze medal.
Rashidi said the players have been training daily since February this year as he does not want any excuses such as the team not being well prepared for Sukma XVII.