Ex-national hockey player Angeline Reutens laid to rest

LABUAN, June 6 -- Former national women’s hockey player Angeline Reutens was laid to rest at the Membedai Catholic Cemetery after a funeral service here today.

Angeline, died last Wednesday afternoon aged 62 at the Labuan Hospital after suffering from kidney illness the past few years.

She leaves behind her husband Captain Yeng Kam Foon and two sons.

She started her playing career with the Labuan women’s team when she was only 16  before being recruited into the Sabah state team two years later.

Her prowess as a forward caught the eyes of national selectors and was one of the early Sabahans called up to represent the national team together with Datuk Josi Bosie in the 1970s.   

Former teammate, Halimah Z Kassim remembers Angeline mostly for her robust play on the field.

The Labuan-born player who captained the Sabah team and played well into the eighties was known to be extremely helpful in guiding her much junior teammates by sharing her knowledge and experience in the sport, according to Halimah.

“Angeline was a kind soul and a terrific teammate with great character, admired and liked by many of her peers.

“She had an enormous influence on Sabah women’s hockey. Thank you Angeline Reutens for the beautiful rainbow,” she said.

Another ex-teammate and her close friend Jaiton Mumin from Tawau was also saddened by the news and regretted not to have visited her earlier.

“I felt very sad I was unable to meet her before her passing. We were very close during our playing days and we managed to keep in touch especially in recent years.

“We communicated through Whatsapp chats regularly and the last message I received from her was back in April when she was still in better health.”

-- BERNAMA