Senior team programme to be revived

Tennis Association of Malaysia (LTAM) president Mirzan Mahathir has assured that the national senior team training programme will be revived next year.

Mirzan said the programme will prepare the players for both the Asia-Oceania Group III Davis Cup (Sept) and the Fed Cup (June) as well as other competitions which includes the Philippines Sea Games.

“I am trying to see whether we can put in a better programme to ensure our players get the best coaching available based on the resources available to us.

“I want to change the system so that (best coaching) happens,” said Mirzan.

“I am hoping it can be implemented by early next year because we have a number of important tournaments including the Davis Cup and Fed Cup, which we are hosting, as well as tournaments beyond that.

The national body was forced to disband the senior team programme at the end of last year due to budget issues and this subsequently left senior players to fend for themselves.

“What happened this year was that we lacked funds to send them for tournaments in preparation for the Davis Cup and so on.

“This year the National Sports Council (NSC) did not provide us with any funds so that affected the way we wanted to handle our players.

“As an association, we do not have revenue coming in on a regular basis and we rely very much on sponsorship so we had to cut (expenditure).

“Maybe because of that they (players) felt they were put aside or neglected.”

Mirzan, however, added that players should learn to be less dependent on the national body and the NSC for funding.

“In theory, we should not be the only ones sending them for competitions.

“They themselves or their sponsor should also be doing so to maintain their level of performance.

“It is just that in the past it has always been the association and the NSC who have been providing them with allowances, accommodation and travelling expenses.

“Everything was taken care of for them.”