Serdang: What started as a hockey development project at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Ladang Rinching, Hulu Langat, a decade ago has grown into a wider grassroots programme that could produce future national hockey stars. The man behind the journey is 44-year-old S. Kaalitash, who has been teaching at SJKT Ladang Rinching since 2016.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, among the players to emerge from his development programme is rising hockey player Eswaran George, who has progressed to the national junior setup and recently represented Malaysia at the 2026 Men's Hockey Junior Asia Cup in Moqi, China. Eswaran, together with his fellow Young Tigers teammates, then booked their place in next year's Men's Hockey Junior World Cup after finishing fourth at the 2026 Men's Hockey Junior Asia Cup.
Kaalitash emphasized that the key to producing players capable of reaching that level, such as 20-year-old Eswaran, is consistency rather than short-term success. "We are not a Malaysian sports school or a school specifically for hockey, but just an ordinary day school. I have to conduct training four times a week and hire external, qualified coaches to train these children consistently. We then take them to open tournaments and arrange friendlies against schools in the state. Only then can we see their level and assess their capabilities. I have maintained this approach consistently throughout the year," he explained.
Kaalitash's dedication has led to success at both school and state levels, with SJKT Ladang Rinching winning the Hulu Langat District Schools Sports Council title for 10 consecutive years since 2017. The Sungai Petani-born teacher also guided the Hulu Langat district team to three consecutive Selangor titles before taking charge of the Selangor Under-12 side from 2023 to 2026, helping the state win four straight Malaysian School Sports Council titles.
After starting the school's hockey development programme from scratch in 2016, Kaalitash established Star Hockey Academy a year later. The academy, which now has more than 120 players comprising 80 boys and 40 girls aged between four and 18, serves as a platform for young players to train and compete consistently beyond their school commitments, providing regular training, tournament exposure, and opportunities to compete against stronger opposition.
Despite the project's success, Kaalitash noted the personal sacrifices involved, as maintaining such a programme requires significant time outside school hours. "Every day is about hockey, including training and taking players to friendly matches. Only then can you see results. I need to remain consistent and highly disciplined in planning this development programme to ensure its success," he added.
He now hopes more of his players can eventually break into the senior national setup, giving him even greater reason to smile.