Directors/Officers
RICHARD (RICK) ENGEL - President
RICHARD (RICK) ENGEL received his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Regina and taught school for 6 ½ years, part of which included introducing the new sport of Sepak Takraw in Physical Education classes. Rick left teaching in 1993 and founded ASEC International, whose mandate was to ‘Bridge Understanding Between Cultures’, primarily between East and West, through Asia Presentations and ‘hands on’ experiences/activities in schools, of which one of the most popular cultural/sport activities became Sepak Takraw. Then in 1998, Rick founded, and is still President of, the Sepak Takraw Association of Canada (STAC) and since 2004 has been one of eight Vice Presidents of the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF), which governs the sport globally. In 2009 he helped establish, and is Vice President-Finance/Administration of, Sepak Takraw Saskatchewan, Canada’s first official Provincial Sport Governing Body (PSGB) for Sepak Takraw.
In spite of the time and energy committed towards the administration of Sepak Takraw provincially & nationally in Canada, Rick still also competes in the sport at every level and has quite a collection of every colour of medal from both provincial and national championships, as well as a silver medal from the King’s Cup World Championships. He has been player/coach of Canada’s national team, leading them to 11 world/international championship events in Thailand, Malaysia, China and France since 1999.
Rick has been awarded his international Coaching and Refereeing Certificates from ISTAF (2000), is currently completing his NCCP – Competition Development Certificate, is in demand for conducting Sepak Takraw Clinics all across North America, and has even conducted Sepak Takraw clinics in schools in France.
Interviewed by TIME magazine in an article on Sepak Takraw (May 28, 2007, Canadian & Asian editions), Rick is considered one of the key pioneers in the promotion and development of Sepak Takraw world-wide, has authored or co-authored 4 books on the sport, including, “Sepak Takraw 101” (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Editions … which has been translated into Indonesian and 3000 copies printed and put in Indonesian Schools) and “Get Active, Get Your Kicks! Sepak Takraw Benchmarks & Evaluation Resource Manual” (1st & 2nd Editions), and has produced 5 Sepak Takraw DVD’s. Rick has also helped create very informative national and provincial websites for the sport of Sepak Takraw in Canada, both of which have a high world-wide viewership, those being www.TakrawCanada.com and www.SepakTakrawSask.ca.
Over the years Rick has also been instrumental in organizing bringing International Sepak Takraw Teams from THAILAND, MALAYSIA, JAPAN, CHINA and USA to compete in various Canadian Open Sepak Takraw Championships and in separate Demonstration Events all across Canada. Local, provincial and national programs have involved Laos, Karen, Burmese and Philippine Canadians in the sport and have provided great avenues for integration into Canadian Culture. In the spring of 2008, Rick was the recipient of the National “Enriching My Canada and Yours” (EMCY) Award for his work with Sepak Takraw and contributions to Diversity in Sports in Canada.
LAYDERWIN LAHSOE - Vice President
(COMING SOON)
KIM ENGEL - Secretary/Treasurer
Kim Engel is a retired educator (as of 2022). She served for 35 years as teacher, vice principal and principal in Saskatchewan schools. Kim achieved both her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education from the University of Regina. She was appointed by the Minister of Canadian Heritage as vice-president of the Celebrate Canada Committee of Saskatchewan and served in that role for 6 years, spearheading several initiatives in the province: Canada Day Poster Challenge; Poetry Contest; and co-chairing both the Celebrate Canada Centennial Jam in 2005 in Wascana Centre and the Celebrate Canada National Meeting. She was nominated for the Prime Ministers Award for Teaching Excellence in 1999 and was a recipient of the Women of Distinction Award in 2002. Kim has been a tremendous supporter, volunteer and ‘cheerleader’ for the sport of Sepak Takraw right from its beginnings in Canada. She has played an integral part by helping out at major events and tournaments, organizing volunteers, administrating, helping with the financial books, and simply always being willing to help and support her husband, Mr. Takraw himself, in the sport. Kim resides in Regina with her husband, Rick Engel, and they have two grown daughters.
MARGARET KUNST - Director, BC Programs
Margaret Kunst is Director of Operations for the PuCKS Program, “Promoting Community through Kids in Sport” in Langley, British Columbia. PuCKS is an organization that uses sport as a tool to keep kids in school. This is a literacy/sport based program to help underprivileged youth achieve success in school and play a sport they love. Margaret has a passion for playing many sports, particularly hockey, baseball and golf. She discovered Sepak Takraw while working with newcomer youth from Thailand who arrived in Langley in 2008. She has been actively involved in promoting Sepak Takraw as a new sport in her community through community leagues, demonstrations in school P.E programs and at various community events. In 2010 she took a team from Langley to represent B.C at the Sepak Takraw Nationals Tournament in Regina. She is proud to call Trinity Western University a partner and assists the TWU Spartan athletes in the planning of the Annual Htoo Htoo Friendly Sepak Takraw Tournament of Champions hosted by TWU each spring. In 2011 Margaret was invited to participate in the NCCP (National Coaching Certification Program) committee meetings in Regina to help develop a coaching model for Sepak Takraw. She will also be participating in the CAAWS (Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women in Sport) Newcomer on the Move Project, to help develop sport and physical activity programs for newcomer girls and young women in Canada. Margaret resides in Langley B.C with her husband and 4 children.
CAELAN REILLY - Director, SK
COMING SOON
RIZAN AHAMAT - Director, ON
Rizan grew up and received his high school diploma in Sri Lanka and began playing Sepak Takraw in the late 1980’s. Rizan represented the Sri Lankan National team in the first World Cup Sepak Takraw tournament (KEJOHANAN SEPAK TAKRAW SEDUNIA) that was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1988. The following year he was selected to again compete for Sri Lanka in the Kings Cup Sepak Takraw World Championships in Thailand. Rizan served as Captain for the Malay Association Kolonnawa (Sri Lanka) Sepak Takraw Team from 1989 to 1995. In 1999, Rizan had the opportunity to immigrate to Canada with his family, first living in Montreal, now in Toronto, where he works for a leading Airline Company at the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Rizan got involved with Sepak Takraw in Canada through STAC starting in 2003.
PO DAH - Director, AB
(COMING SOON)