KUCHING: Super coach Major Sapok Biki is ready to take Sarawak to greater heights in boxing if his services are required.
The dedicated coach, an army officer with the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces who is now stationed here, possesses the coveted AIBA 1-Star Coach certificate which makes him qualified to coach any national level boxing team in Asia.
He had a stellar amateur boxing career, having represented Malaysia in the SEA Games, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. He has been prolific in training some of the top boxing talents in the country, be it fighters or coaches.
“I have trained many fighters all over the country and I have sent a good number to the national team. One time I managed to get my entire camp (Army Commandos Division) team in Negeri Sembilan to represent the state in the Sabah Sukma,” said Sapok.
“The current national coach was my student, both as a fighter and while training to become a coach. And the current Sarawak head coach was also my trainee and still joins me here in my gym to spar as I work with all his trainees,” he continued.
State head boxing coach Mohd Helman Morni was present at Sapok’s home gym, accompanied by his assistant, Filipino coach Wilbur Andongan and some of the state boxers to spar with the living legend. They were getting tips on techniques, stance and form.
“Last Sukma we won three out of nine medals up for grabs, two bronzes and a silver.
“So with coach Sapok’s experience I believe Sarawak can go for six medals or even one gold in the next Sukma in Johor,” said Helman of his ‘guru’ Sapok.
Sapok, who operates a makeshift boxing gym in the car park space in front of his home, trains students for two nights a week and accepts anybody who shows interest in boxing. H has students from Lundu, Tabuan Dayak and his neighbourhood.
“I charge a RM60 fee which is to subsidise the gym expenses where I provide all the fighters with food and drinks during classes so after they have their rigorous workout they can chill and have healthy food and plenty of drinks. That is where most of the money goes to,” said Sapok
Sapok has actually been using his own pocket to top up the expenses for the gym but he is happy to do it due to his passion for the sport and his love of coaching.
Currently, he is a consultant to the Kuching Division 1 Army boxing team and one of the trainees in that programme has been called up for national selection.
In his home gym he is training a crop of local fighters whom he reckons have the talents to fight at the highest level.
One of the future prospects from his home gym is 18-year-old Elia Zonia Augustine Peter.
Said the lady boxer, “I have just started boxing with coach Sapok but previously I practised Muay Thai. I’m just getting used to boxing and am enjoying it. I believe he will make me a top boxer so I’m excited to be under his wings.”
Sapok’s boxing career began
at the tender age of 18 when he
was recruited into the Armed Forces.
He was then enlisted into boxing by his trainers but within three months of learning all the basics he was picked to undergo the Commonwealth 98’ sports programme.
“I would never have become a boxer if it was not for the Army. It gave me the opportunity to flourish, both in my career and the sport, so I am always grateful to the Armed Forces,” he added
The highlight of his career was the famous first gold medal he won for Malaysia in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
The humble boxer recalled his experience meeting boxing legend Muhammad Ali just before a bout in the Olympics where the legendary boxer gave some words of encouragement to him, knowing that he was the underdog in the fight.
With those words of encouragement, Sapok overcame all odds to create an upset, beating the gold medal contender in the opening bout.
Sapok didn’t get past the following round but he reckoned it was the legendary Ali’s words that carried him through the first fight and he used those words to fire himself up whenever he entered the ring.
