Michael Nobbs draws support in cancer fight

RANCHI: Former Indian men’s hockey team coach Michael Nobbs has been battling cancer for five years. Earlier this year, it spread to his bones and progressed to stage four. Still, Nobbs began an experimental course of medication in the hope of stopping the disease from advancing.A few months ago, one of his two daughters, Kaitlin, started a GoFundMe campaign to help pay for the treatment, which is not covered under the Australian government programme. The response brought huge relief: the Australian hockey community stepped in, raising more than AU $60,000, enough to cover the bulk of the treatment.Nobbs is now halfway through the course and is doing “as well as he can”, with his “spirits high”, as Kaitlin put it. The practicalities, however, remain tough. Nobbs is undergoing treatment in Sydney, while the family is based in Perth.“It’s challenging supporting him from afar sometimes, but we go over there as much as possible to support him,” said Kaitlin, who is in India to play in the Women’s Hockey India League for SG Pipers. She featured in the league last year as well, turning out for Odisha Warriors, who won the title under coach Janneke Schopman.Kaitlin has been visiting India since childhood and remembers being here when India qualified for the 2012 Olympics after missing out in 2008. “It was a huge party, as you can well imagine. I also went to see some of the Hockey India League matches with my mom and it was amazing. And I still have some photos of me in front of the Taj Mahal,” recalled Kaitlin, who was part of the Olympics team in Tokyo.Nobbs, she said, has long been her coach in more ways than one. “He has been my coach for a very long time. He gave me some advice to go out and have some fun and play well and take some chances,” said the Hockeyroo of the Year.Kaitlin, who also works as a nurse at a children’s hospital in Perth, called it “a privilege” growing up with a father whose guidance came from experience.Not only Kaitlin’s father, but her mother, Lee Capes, was also a hockey player and won gold for Australia at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Lee’s sister Michelle and brother-in-law Mark Hager also represented the country, and as a result, Kaitlin grew up surrounded by hockey. Even with such a background, Kaitin has been more than impressed working under coach Sophie Gierts in this edition of the tournament.“She is awesome. She is really good at empowering us as women to play the best we can and making our game plan really clear with all the different cultures,” said Kaitlin, who earned her 150th international cap early this year.With all her experience, she will hopefully lead the Pipers to the top this year, but more importantly, go back home to see her father healthier than before.