BY PIETER VORSTER
Special to the Record
Sepak takraw translates to 鈥榢ick鈥� ball鈥� and more than 12 years ago a former Comox Valley resident named David Lecovin discovered the sport being played on a trip to Thailand.
In southeast Asia, it is played at all levels much like hockey is played here in Canada, both professionally and in driveways. It is the national sport of both Malaysia and Thailand. In Myanmar, it is also their national sport but it鈥檚 referred to as Chinlone and said to be more than 1,500 years old. In the Philippines, it is taught as part of the school curriculum. Yet in Canada, it鈥檚 almost completely unknown.
Excited and armed with a couple of woven rattan sepak takraw balls and a badminton net, Lecovin enlisted some friends to give the sport a try back home in the Comox Valley. The game functions the same as other net sport, like volleyball or badminton, only instead of using a racquet, players must use soccer-style skills, using their feet, knees or head to propel the ball. Each side has three hits to get the ball back over the net. Players can pass the ball or take all three hits themselves.
Lecovin鈥檚 social circle showed excitement and persistence and embraced the game with flailing legs, so to speak, and the Red Giants sepak takraw team was born! Although Lecovin moved away, the group stuck to the sport playing every week, enlisting other friends and newcomers to the Comox Valley. The group grew and evolved and now plays at a calibre worthy of national recognition.
You can view a short explainer video about the game, and some footage of the Red Giants sepak takraw teams playing at https://redgiants.ca.
The game only requires a decent pair of sports shoes and some foot-eye co-ordination, so it is accessible to most. New players will find the game comes with a learning curve, and rewards perseverance with the ability to serve, receive, set, and spike the ball with confidence and accuracy. Experience in soccer and hacky sack can help players get into the sport but the group has found their camaraderie is what keeps them playing.
Comox Valley hosting first-ever provincial championship
The Red Giants will be forming three separate teams this summer when they host the first-ever Provincial Sepak Takraw Championship in Martin Park on Saturday, Aug. 12. Their competition will be fierce, considering they are playing against other teams who were born in countries that practise sepak takraw as early as they can walk. Two teams are predominantly Filipino and the other team comes from Myanmar.
This one-day tournament will be played from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m. and will feature fresh food on-site courtesy of the Phat Parrot food truck.
Come out and cheer on your favourite of the three local teams. Phill Fuller is captaining Team ComoxValleyBounce. Pieter Vorster will be leading Team Pod Creative and Jason Green will be captaining Team Jay Green Plumbing.
