Where Will Malaysia Sepaktakraw Be In The Future?

Salam...

Last Saturday was the day for those whose blood veins run sepaktakraw balls in Malaysia were left in anger, frustration and full of fury. Why? The national team lost to Indonesia in the recent Sepaktakraw Super Series, the 26th King's Cup held in Fashion Island, Bangkok, Thailand from the 12th to 17th September 2011 and to add salt to the wound they were not even in the last four.

For decades, as a country who originated the game, Malaysia had appeared to be the giant alongside Thailand for a very-very long period until lately where they have found themselves being surpassed by emerging countries even against country like Korea! So, just imagine, once they catch up, where will we particularly Malaysia be in the future?

Sepaktakraw World Cup Trophy

So, what, when, why, who and where went wrong? I guess the PSM or the Persatuan Sepaktakraw Malaysia (Malaysia Sepaktakraw Association) should know the answer...... or for worst they did not or might not know at all. Ha..ha..ha.. :-) All in all, in my very own perspective, since the national team last won the gold medal in the 2005 Manila Southeast Asian Games, they have never gone better or even a notch ahead and how I wish I could be critical, sarcastic and cynical on the matter because as usual the association action would be to start all over again and the blame game begins.

Nevermind... if any of the PSM guys happened to read this, here are some ideas listed for you guys to ponder and juggle with as I am trying to be a lil' bit constructive here :

•  Do not carbon copy or replicate what the Thais did. Create our own identity of game play. Seek assistance from the universities in performing analysis, research and development so that we could create new things, our way of play, etc. I guess the universities would be more than happy to help.
• Change the training method. I guess you would agree with me that sports nowadays are very-very much related to science and mathematics. Further enhance in studying or analyzing the player's physique, game play, strategy, etc. which is very-very much necessary in craving success. We seriously need real thinkers here before implementation takes place.
• If we can have reality television shows such as "Soccer Kids", etc. why not "Sepaktakraw Kid"? At least my neighbour's son will have the chance to be on national television while undergoing the trial and as well as it may increase you coffer too I guess.
• If we are to educate viewers, we need real game commentators who can actually analyze games instead of talking about how high the opponent can jump, commenting about the players height, etc. Come on!!! It is so seventies to narrate and comments as such. We need people like Shebby Singh for instance who can analyze game play, opponent's strategy, etc.
• Develop more lower level coaches and mobilize or attach them with schools, universities, clubs, organizations, etc.

To list a few so there they go! Thus; to PSM, sepaktakraw is no more about serve, first ball, feed and  kill. I trust it is beyond that and we are still never too late. Let us get back to where we were and used to be.

As for my case, yesterday; while watching the final game between Thailand and Indonesia, my nine year old son Ilhan said that he wanted to be a "Killer" like his dad but the problem is in his school no one is playing sepaktakraw. Perhaps they might not have heard of sepaktakraw at all before. At least for now I have another fan idolizing me albeit a long time ago his mother used to be touched in her heart whenever she saw me doing that acrobatic thing called "lipat". :-)

See ya...

Rhymee