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)