Edwin, mentor of many athletes, passes on
someone is as charismatic and gallant as celebrated athletics coach, Datuk Edwin Abraham, it is easy to be seduced into giving credit.
His passing leaves the track and field fraternity with a collective sense of loss, feelings of nostalgia and a belief that an era has passed.
Edwin breathed his last on Thursday in Seremban. He was 84.
Edwin had an extraordinary ability to unlock what is bound up in others.
The man who had mentored some of Malaysia’s finest athletes deservedly has pride of place in the pantheon of athletics evolution in the country.
His chemistry with a powerful roster of track and field legends was palpable.
Former national 400m hurdles hero Kenny Martin described Edwin as a magnetic personality who created a world of values and “invited you in”.
Former national 5000m champion C. Sathasivam said: “Edwin was an inspiration who trained us with love and passion, making us lively, disciplined, confident and podium achievers.
“He loved his athletes like his children, found jobs for many of them in the civil service and even got some married.”
As a teacher with small income, Sathasivam said, Edwin’s dedication stretched to cramming up to eight athletes in his small Datsun car to participate in meets up north and in Singapore for almost a decade.
Edwin’s world unlocked runners and fostered intensity. And he was always recruiting.
In 1963, he set up the Harimau Sports Club that soon rivalled top athletics clubs such as Lights, Jets, Panthers, Pelando, Comets and Kancil.
Soon, his athletes were thrust into national and regional spotlight.
In a rare interview three years ago with veteran sportswriter Tony Mariadass, a modest Edwin said: “I have been lucky that I had a great set of athletes under me.
“I just fine-tuned them and it was their hard work, determination and belief in themselves which saw them achieve success.”
He then said his most memorable moment in coaching was his charges winning five gold medals in hurdles at the 1977 Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia won the men’s 110 hurdles (Ishtiaq Mubarak), 400m hurdles (Sumit Bolkiah), women’s 100m and 200 hurdles (Marina Chin) and 400m hurdles (Jessica Lau).
In 2001, Edwin who represented Negri Sembilan from 19541962 in the 120 yards hurdles and high jump, was named best athletics coach in Malaysia.
He is survived by wife Doris, two sons — former national cricketer Andrey and Adrian — and daughter Auria.