Selamat Hari Lahir, Colin Sta Maria
Legasi Lagenda ingin mengucapkan selamat hari lahir kepada Olimpian negara, Colin Sta Maria!
Colin Sta Maria merupakan pemain dalam pasukan hoki belia kebangsaan yang beraksi di edisi pertama Hoki Piala Dunia Belia pada tahun 1979.
Selepas empat tahun menjalani latihan dan menimba pengalaman melalui lawatan ke Australia dan Eropah, Malaysia dikatakan antara pasukan yang paling bersedia untuk bermain di kejohanan belia tersebut. Pada perlawanan pembukaan, Colin tampil sebagai wira Malaysia setelah menjaringkan gol kemenangan pada minit ke-56. Malaysia mengalahkan India 2–1.
Colin telah meraih banyak kejayaan bersama pasukan hoki Malaysia termasuk layak ke Piala Dunia serta memenangi pingat gangsa Sukan Asia 1982 dan pingat emas Sukan SEA 1983.
Kemuncak kerjaya Colin merupakan impian yang dinanti-nantikan, iaitu bertanding di Sukan Olimpik Los Angeles 1984, di mana Malaysia menduduki tempat ke-11. Malaysia telah layak ke Sukan Olimpik Moscow 1980 berdasarkan prestasi di kejohanan-kejohanan antarabangsa sepanjang dua tahun sebelumnya. Namun, Malaysia memulaukan edisi tersebut sebagai bantahan pencerobohan Rusia ke atas Afghanistan.
Semoga pencapaian-pencapaian beliau akan sentiasa diingati dan menjadi inspirasi kepada generasi akan datang.
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Legasi Lagenda would like to wish a happy birthday to national Olympian, Colin Sta Maria!
Colin Sta Maria was a part of the national youth hockey team who played at the first edition of the Hockey Junior World Cup in 1979.
After four years of training and gaining experience through tours to Australia and Europe, Malaysia was said to be one of the best prepared teams for the tournament. In the opening match, Colin came out as Malaysia’s hero after scoring the winning goal in the 56th minute. Malaysia defeated India 2–1.
Colin reaped many successes with the Malaysian hockey team including playing at the World Cup as well as winning the bronze medal at the 1982 Asian Games and gold medal at the 1983 SEA Games.
A highlight of Colin’s career was the long-awaited dream of competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, where Malaysia placed 11th. Malaysia had previously qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games based on their performance in international competitions throughout the two years prior. However, Malaysia forfeited the Games due to the country’s protest against Russia’s military invasion of Afghanistan.
We hope all his achievements will always be remembered and be an inspiration for generations to come.
