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By Wilfred Pilo

KUCHING, Aug 11: Sarawak-born Ein Eric has been appointed as the head coach of the Gold Fields Western Australia Men’s Amateur team by Football West, the football governing body of Western Australia.

Ein will lead the team on a three-game tour of Malaysia this November, where they will face three top-tier Malaysian Super League teams in Kuala Lumpur.

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Ein, who holds an AFC A-license and currently coaches the Western Knights Under-20s NPL team, expressed his gratitude for the appointment in an interview with DayakDaily.

“I’m honoured to be given this opportunity, and I’m excited to make my debut as the Western Australian team’s head coach on Malaysian soil,” he said.

He added that he was thrilled to be entrusted with this task by Football West, noting that this will be the first time since 2019 that Western Australia’s football governing body has sent a representative abroad.

“The teams we will play against are big clubs, some of which have represented Malaysia in Asian Football Confederation competitions,” Ein said.

“Their players are highly technical and quick so that it will be a tough challenge. But it is also a fantastic opportunity for the players to showcase their abilities.”

Speaking about the upcoming tour, Ein mentioned that the players were eager to travel abroad again after being grounded by the Covid-19 pandemic.

“They have not had the chance to play internationally since before the pandemic, so they are looking forward to facing some of the best teams in Malaysia.”

Born in Sri Aman to Bidayuh-Iban parents, Ein began his coaching career with Western Knights in 2007 after an injury cut short his playing days.

“I’ve worked hard to coach every age group in Western Australia over the years.

“For the last six years, I’ve been in Victoria, coaching the U19s, U20s, and U23s in the Victorian National Premier League.”

A devoted fan of the Sarawak Football Club, Ein fondly remembers the ‘Ngap Sayot’ era of the late 1980s and 1990s.

“I watched most of Sarawak FC’s games during those glory years at Stadium Sarawak and still feel very connected to football back home. Every time I return to Kuching, I make sure to pick up the latest Sarawak team kits for myself and my children.”

Ein also shared how watching Sarawak footballers inspired his journey into coaching.

“I developed my interest in football while I was a student at St Joseph Secondary School in Kuching. Although I never represented the school, I did play for a club in Perth while I was attending university. After suffering some injuries, I decided to focus on coaching,” he said. — DayakDaily

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