Former Sarawak goalkeeper Pamela Tia showing the youngsters how to put the on the gear during the SHA’s SSC funded coaching clinic at Long Lama, Baram. — Photo courtesy of C. Sivarsubramaniam
KUCHING: When it comes to job titles, C. Sivarsubramaniam have many to choose from.
He is Sarawak hockey’s head coach but he is also called a consultant. Not only that, he conducts coaching clinics all over Sarawak.
Last week, he along with his coaching staff conducted a clinic in Long Lama, Baram, one of the more remote area of Sarawak.
After more than a decade in Sarawak, it was the first time he went there.
“It was also the first time I had a Chinese-medium school involved in our clinic,” he noted.
Another first was the 11 students who decided to learn goalkeeping.
“Normally, we get very few students who want to be goalies,” noted Sivar.
The Feb 11-14 clinic was an idea mooted by Sarawak Hockey Association (SHA) president Datin Mary Sadiah Zainuddin.
“It was such a remote location but I am very glad we went there,” said Sivar.
The trip was funded by the Sarawak Sports Corporation.
SHA coaches S Sakrunathan, Dangerous L Mathew, Beatrice Lawing, Pamela Tia, MSN coordinator Jolene Yong and former Sarawak player Janeter Kair, now a school warden, were all involved with the smooth running of the clinic.
Students from SML Long Lama, SK Ubong Imang and SJK(C) Kee Tee participated in the clinic.
It started at SMK Long Lama and was switched to SJK(C) Kee Tee’s multi-purpose hall the next day.
“We are really grateful to the principal of SJK(C) Kee Tee for letting us use their facility on such short notice,” said Sivar.
Not only that, the city slickers were all given a special assembly to welcome them.
“It was quite something to be welcomed that way,” said Sivar.
To get to Long Lama from Miri city, they needed a two and a half hour drive in a 4WD, a ferry crossing and another 30 mins drive.
For Sivar, it is just another pin to put on the Sarawak map.
The only Sarawak coach to win a Sukma womens hockey gold, he has been through the good times and the bad times.
The 64 students and six coaches were the perfect attendees.
“They were so enthusiastic and eager to learn. We could not have asked for anything more,” noted Sivar.
“They are very hardy and picked up the basic skills so quickly,” he noted.
They even managed to learn the difficult Indian dribble after a few sessions.
“I was really impressed because it is not a skill that is easy to learn,” noted Sivar.
In the end, what really matters is whether there is continuity. He has lost count of the talents that has slipped away.
“I am very hopeful that the teachers there will continue to keep the students involved in hockey,” said Sivar.
The three schools have very limited hockey gear. What they have are also old and dilapidated.
To alleviate that and ensure that there is continuity, the SHA has given SMK Long Lama 25 hockey sticks, balls and drill cones.
“We are also ordering more equipment for the other two schools,” said Sivar.
He also plans to return to Long Lama later in the year to check on their progress.