KUCHING: The Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) have been urged to expand basic hockey skill development programmes for young athletes in the state, with a focus on both the men and women’s hockey teams.
Head coach Linda Liwek Laing said that although SSC and MSNS have implemented several programmes through the Development Centers (PP) and the Excellence Development Programs (PC), it is still insufficient.
“Basic skills are crucial to building a strong team capable of competing with elite teams from other states, such as ball-passing skills, protocols, and defence.
“Personally, I have noticed that many of our women’s hockey team players have very weak ball-stopping techniques.
“When they make mistakes during stopping, their confidence and focus in the game drop,” she said.
She said this when met by reporters after attending the match between the Sarawak women’s hockey team and Sabah at the Petra Jaya Hockey Stadium today (Aug 22).
Linda suggested that the implementation of Basic Hockey Clinics in Sarawak should be intensified, especially at the grassroots level, as a platform to provide fundamental knowledge and nurture talented players starting from school.
At the same time, she expressed hope that the state government would work harder and remain committed to addressing the mistakes or problems within the sport of hockey.
“Our athletes have great potential and can go far if given more training. The only issue is that training time is very limited as many of them are tied to their school schedules.
“For example, in our team, it is rare for us to gather all the players for training due to time constraints.
“However, I acknowledge that the Education Ministry (MOE) and the Sarawak State Education Department (JPNS) have indeed provided support by granting them leave for training,” she said.
On the same day, the women’s hockey team placed 10th after losing to Sabah 2-0 in the match for ninth and 10th place at Sukma 2024.
