Teong Kim going for L-test (The Malay Mail0

FORMER international Lim Teong Kim is now bent on becoming a successful
football coach after having had an illustrious playing career.
 Teong Kim, 32, last played for Kedah in the Premier League before taking
up a coach-cum-player role with the States FAM League team, Langkasuka,
this season.
 He will leave for Germany next week to attend coaching courses for at
least three years. Teong Kim hopes to obtain a soccer diploma from the
renowned Hennef Football School in Cologne.
 His stay in Germany will be self-financed.
 Only one Malaysian has so far attended and holds a diploma from the
school (in the late 60s) - M. Joseph Mariapillai of Negri Sembilan.
Mariapillai currently coaches the Chempaka Textile team in the FAM League.
 Teong Kim, who was capped 75 times for Malaysia, started his career with
home State Malacca. He subsequently played with Selangor, Kuala Lumpur,
Negri Sembilan and, finally, Kedah.
 He achieved the rare distinction of being the first Malaysian to play in
Europe, for Div 3 German side Hertha Berlin, in 1987 and 1988.
 Teong Kim, whose wife is German Michael Nock, has two children - a son,
Luciano (2 1/2 years) and daughter Lenya (two months).
 Although he speaks German, he will take a refresher language course in
Germany before enrolling at Hennef.
 "All the courses will be in German. And I have to be really fluent in
the language to undergo the diploma course," said Teong Kim, who already
holds an FA of Malaysia advanced coaching certificate.
 He will be seeking the B and A Licence through the Bayerische FA in
Munich, his wife's hometown.
 "I managed to secure a place for these courses through the assistance of
the FA of Malaysia and Olger Obbermann (FAMs goal-keeping coach)."
 What prompted his latest move?
 "I have been in constant touch with Fifa coach Josef Veglos (a former
Kuala Lumpur coach) who suggested that Hennef Football School is the best
for soccer coaches," explained Teong Kim.
Short holiday
 "Besides, my wife wants to return to work with the airline from which
she had taken leave for the last three years."
 "I felt this is the best time for me to take the courses," added Teong
Kim, whose first course begins in November.
 "Prior to that, Ill be having a short holiday in Germany."
 Teong Kim hopes to land a coaching stint in Europe before returning to
Malaysia. When that happends, he wont be first from the sporting Lim
family involved in coaching.
 His elder brothers, Kim Choon and Chuan Chin, are FA of Malaysia coaches
while Hong Guan is coaching at club level.
 Kim Choon, who was assistant to national coach Hateem Souissi for this
years Merdeka tournament, is also a technical officer with FAM while Hong
Guan specialises in coaching goalkeepers for all the national teams.
 These three and another elder brother, Seng Koon, have played at State
level at one time or another - Seng Koon represented Johor and Armed
Forces, Kim Choon for Malacca and KL, Chuan Chin for Malacca, Perak,
Pahang, Selangor and KL and Hong Guan as goalkeeper for Malacca and
Selangor.
 The men from the Lim family of 15 weren't the only ones who made
headlines in the sporting arena. Sister Mary once played hockey for
Malaysia.
 While the famous Sidek family may have dominated the badminton scene,
that honour in soccer must surely belong to the Lims of Malacca.
                               (END)