Edwin confident of medal chances
Edwin confident of medal chances
JAKARTA (JP): The name of Edwin Aldrin Mamoribo may not be
familiar to sports fans, especially because he plays hockey, a
sport only popular among students.
But Edwin is confident that Indonesia, despite its decidedly
underdog status, can exceed expectations at the 20th Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games.
"I am certain that we can earn a medal," he said.
Edwin, the second of three children of hockey team coach Simon
Mamoribo, said his team aimed to win the bronze but hoped for a
silver, even if it had to "fight to the death".
Still, Edwin admitted the team was not sufficiently prepared
for the biennial event in Brunei Darussalam.
"The preparation for the Games is not good enough due to the
limited training period of less than two months," he was quoted
as saying by Kompas daily.
Edwin, born in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, on Independence
Day of Aug. 17, 1978, is a native Irianese.
His father was a teacher in the South Sulawesi provincial
capital at the time. Simon now teaches at state-run YPK Biak High
School in Biak, Irian Jaya.
"We are five siblings and all of us love hockey. My elder
brother, Yusuf Franky Mamoribo, was appointed captain of the
men's hockey team in the 19th SEA Games (held here in 1997)."
"My younger brother Melky Christian Mamoribo also joined the
training program for the 20th SEA Games. I think we have the same
talent which was passed down from our father," said the third-
year student at YPK Technology Institute in Bandung.
Edwin began training with the Irian Jaya chapter of the
Indonesian Hockey Association (PHSI) in Jayapura in 1989.
"I was only 11 years old. But two years later I managed to
play in the 1991 national tournament in Bandarlampung. I
contributed the gold for the Irian Jaya team. After the
tournament, I have participated in every national tournament and
I was able to help my team to win the gold," he said.
In 1992, he played for Irian Jaya in the 13th National Games
(PON) and earned a gold medal. In his last performance in the
1996 PON held here, he also won the gold for Irian Jaya.
Edwin was invited to join the training program for the 17th
SEA Games in 1993 in Singapore. Unfortunately, he did not pass
the selection process.
Four years later, he was included in the core team for the
19th SEA Games. His team earned a bronze.
Friends and foes acknowledge three qualities about Edwin. The
first is his outstanding contribution to the team in the 1997
Games, second his technical expertise and, finally, he is more
prepared than other members of the team. (ivy)