THE COLOMBIAN CONNECTION
Half a world away in South America, an Asian sport finds surprising popularity
MENTION Colombia, and three famous footballers come to mind: Carlos Valderrama, Rene Higuita and James Rodriguez.
What about Colombians kicking around with a smaller ball, from a sport that made its way from Southeast Asia to the Western Hemisphere?
Sepak takraw, as a sport in Colombia, must be the furthest thing from Malaysians’ minds.
But, surprise, surprise, sepak takraw has caught on with the young in Colombia.
Often, Malaysians equate Colombian sports with their famous footballers: midfielder Valderrama, with unique hairstyle and great skill (1980s-1990s), El Loco, the “madman” goalkeeper Higuita (1990 World Cup star) and midfielder Rodriguez, who won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup and who currently plays for Bayern Munich.
After football, Colombians like to go for bicycle racing, roller skating and baseball.
Colombia are ranked 12th by Fifa in the world and they also have several cyclists who have done well in Tour de France.
Colombia’s Ambassador to Malaysia, Mauricio Gonzalez Lopez said: “Yes, a lot of people especially, the young people in my country, are playing sepak takraw.”
The emergence of sepak takraw as a popular sport in a country in Latin America is remarkable.
When asked how sepak takraw came about in his country, Gonzalez Lopez admitted he is not sure though he believed it might be through students and university exchange programmes between Malaysia and Colombia.
“It’s a recent phenomenon. How this sport got into my country specifically, I am not sure,” he said.
Recalling the first time he saw the game of sepak takraw in Malaysia, Gonzalez Lopez admitted having a feelings of awe and he described it as |a “very difficult” game.
Sepak takraw originated from Southeast Asia, initially Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei before spreading to the Indo-China region, Japan, Canada and the United States with tournaments held from time to time in these countries.
The expansion of sepak takraw-playing countries means the game might flourish in South America in the near future, with Gonzalez Lopez also professing his plan for Colombians to compete in tournaments in Malaysia as a move to popularise the sport further in his country.
In view of Colombia’s Foreign Minister visit to Malaysia next month, he said: “I want to suggest to my minister to prepare a takraw team from Colombia to participate in a local tournament here next year.”
Colombia wants to explore other sports as well, said Gonzalez Lopez, including badminton, volleyball and kabaddi.
As for badminton, he said his country is interested in cooperating with Malaysia to learn more about the sport.
Gonzalez Lopez has met with Sports Minister, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to discuss ways of improving local talents in Malaysian football.
“He (Syed Saddiq) told me his interest in the possibility of Colombian football coaches coming here (Malaysia) for a few months to help improve local players’ skills.
“I know young Malaysian players have great potential,” added Gonzalez Lopez.
It looks like Colombia is going big in sports. With sepak takraw already popular in the country, maybe badminton will be next.