Sarikei eyeing top four finish in MSSS hockey

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The Sarikei Boys U18 team with Matthew (fifth left), Norhizam (sixth right) and Law (sixth left) before a training session at SMK Meradong recently.

KUCHING: Sarikei are looking to finish among the top four teams in the Boys U18 competition at the Sarawak Schools Sports Council (MSSS) Hockey Championship at the Sarawak Astroturf Hockey Stadium, Jalan Padungan  from April 20-24.

The full Boys U18 team will be represented by 18 players from SMK Meradong while six of the school’s players are among the 18-member Girls U18 team.

To SMK Meradong senior assistant (co-curriculum) Paul Law Nai Kung, this was indeed an achievement for the Bintangor school.

“We are proud to be able to form a full boys team and contribute six players for the girls team for Sarikei,” Law said in a telephone interview from Bintangor yesterday.

According to him, boys hockey was established in SMK Meradong in 2008 as one of the school high performance sports.

The school was also Meradong District training centre for hockey.

The boys team consists of five form five students, with the rest coming from form two to form four classes.

They are Dillon Kong Cing Cing, Sazwani Fazile, Saviester Dawie Richard, Dediwijaya Abdullah, Mohammad Amirul Mohd Nor, Mathew Mesa Chieu, Fillon Sibat, Christopher Oswald Nyambang Bah, James Ricky Muar Mika, Fidaus Mohammad, Patrick Ragan Stephen, Wendy Asrul, Syed Muhd Khairi Wan Hairulbasar, Alexander Ball Ubang, Samsuddin Jumat, Jerry Jayang Punul, Chiew Ming Hua and Muhammad Haziq Subandi.

Although the majority of them have never played on astroturf before, Law believes that the boys are capable of giving the favoured teams like Kuching, Samarahan, Sibu and Miri a good run for their money.

“As facilities are seriously lacking in Bintangor and Sarikei, the boys are training and playing on concrete floors and this is no reason or excuse for them not to perform in Kuching,” said Law who is the assistant team manager for Sarikei.

The team manager is SMK Meradong principal Raniah Mit while the chief coach is Matthew Daib, with Norhizam Abdul Rashid as his assistant.

“Matthew, who trained under the Sarawak Hockey Association training programme during his schooldays, have expressed to me his confidence that the boys can make it to the top four.”

“I am also hoping for them to reach the semi-finals and it would indeed be a very good exposure for them too,” said Law.

In preparing for the big ocassion, Law said the boys have been undergoing centralised training at SMK Meradong from April 13-16 while the girls did theirs at SMK Pakan during the same period.

The teams will leave for Kuching today and have their practice/training sessions at SMK Paku Bau on Saturday before adjourning to the competition venue on Sunday.

Sarikei boys last took part in the MSSS meet in 2013 where they finished fourth.

Last year, Sarikei did not send any team tot he state meet.

Meanwhile, for the Girls U18 team, Sarikei will be represented by 12 players from SMK Pakan and six from SMK Meradong.

The six SMK Meradong players, who have never played on astroturf surface, comprise Caroline Ukat, Kristina Maria Anggang, Juliza Menu Jelai, Hellen Mujah, Naomy Simba Dundang and Diana Dane Mugen.

Head coach is Mohammad Faisal Ibrahim and his assistant is Masnorulhuda Che Mat.

The team is managed by SMK Pakan principal Lulong Katoi.