Selamat Hari Lahir, Colin Sta Maria!

Legasi Lagenda ingin mengucapkan selamat hari kelahiran ke-66 kepada Colin Sta Maria!

Legenda hoki negara telah memulakan karier beliau pada awal usia remaja. Colin merupakan sebahagian daripada pasukan belia kebangsaan di Piala Dunia Belia yang julung kalinya diadakan pada tahun 1979.

Colin menjadi bintang pasukan apabila beliau menjaringkan gol kemenangan pada perlawanan pembukaan kejohanan tersebut, di mana Malaysia mengalahkan India 2-1. Ketika itu, pasukan belia Malaysia sememangnya sudah bersedia setelah empat tahun menjalani latihan serta menimba pengalaman melalui lawatan ke Australia dan Eropah. Malaysia akhirnya berjaya menduduki tempat keempat di edisi pertama Piala Dunia Belia Hoki yang berlangsung di Perancis. 

Pada tahun berikutnya, Colin dan pasukan utama hoki Malaysia layak ke Sukan Olimpik Moscow 1980. Oleh sebab Malaysia memulaukan edisi tersebut, hasrat mereka untuk beraksi di kejohanan berprestij itu malangnya tidak tercapai. Namun, impian Colin yang dinanti-nantikan termakbul empat tahun kemudian di Sukan Olimpik 1984. 

Colin juga telah meraih banyak kejayaan termasuk memenangi pingat gangsa Sukan Asia 1982 dan pingat emas Sukan SEA 1983, serta layak ke Piala Dunia 1982. 

Semoga segala pencapaian beliau sentiasa diingati dan menjadi inspirasi kepada generasi muda dan yang akan datang.  

//

Legasi Lagenda wishes a happy 66th birthday to Colin Sta Maria! 

The national hockey legend began his sporting career early in his teens and was part of the national junior team for the inaugural Junior World Cup in 1979. 

He became the star of the show when he scored the winning goal in the tournament’s opening match, where Malaysia defeated India 2–1. At the time, the national team was already primed after four years of training and garnering experience through tours in Australia and Europe. Malaysia placed fourth at the end of the first Junior World Cup held in France. 

The following year, they qualified for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. However, due to Malaysia’s boycott of the Games, they were not able to participate. Nonetheless, Colin achieved his long-awaited dream and became an Olympian four years later at the 1984 Olympic Games. 

Colin has also reaped successes such as winning the bronze medal at the 1982 Asian Games and gold medal at the 1983 SEA Games, as well as qualifying for the 1982 World Cup.

We hope all his achievements will always be remembered and be an inspiration for generations to come.