So long, cool Dane
Long Cool Dane quits as technical director, citing personal reasons
They call Morten Frost (pic) the ‘Long Cool Dane’. He may have been just that in his playing days. But his forays into coaching haven’t lasted very long. His second stint with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) came to an abrupt end when he tendered his resignation after serving for 2½ years as technical director. His first stint with the BAM as the coaching director lasted two years – from 1997 to 1999. BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria said: “We received Frost’s resignation letter on Sept 11. We’ve accepted it today (yesterday) ... We take this as an amicable split. We thank him for his services and wish him the best. Now, we move on.”
KUALA LUMPUR: They call Morten Frost the “Long Cool Dane”.
He may have been just that in his playing days. But his forays into coaching haven’t lasted very long.
His second stint with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) came to an abrupt end when he tendered his resignation after serving for 2½ years as technical director.
His first stint with the BAM as the coaching director lasted two years – from 1997 to 1999.
BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria announced Frost’s resignation yesterday.
However, Norza did not view the shocking news as a big setback.
Frost was hired by the Youth and Sports Ministry and seconded to BAM on a five-year contract from 2015 to 2020.
“We received his resignation letter on Sept 11. We’ve accepted it today,” said Norza after chairing the coaching and training committee (C&T) meeting at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) in Bukit Kiara.
“Frost has given us a six-month notice but the terms and details will be discussed further.
“We take this as an amicable split. We thank him for his services and wish him the best.
“Now, we move on,” said Norza, who rubbished claims that Frost was pressured to quit following the failure of the national team to meet a semi-final target at the Sudirman Cup in Gold Coast in May.
The team also fared badly at last month’s World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, and falling short of their two-gold target at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.
There have also been open disputes between Frost and national No. 1 Lee Chong Wei – with the Dane having no say in the running of the men’s singles department.
“Frost cited personal reasons for his resignations. No one pressured him,” said Norza.
Malaysia won three silvers at the 2016 Rio Olympics and Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong won several tournaments under his charge last year.
“We didn’t do well this year. I’ll take it as my responsibility on behalf of everyone. It’s not because of one individual,” said Norza.
But Norza was firm about one thing – that the responsibility is now on all the five head coaches – Datuk Misbun Sidek (men’s singles), Cheah Soon Kit (men’s doubles), Tey Seu Bock (women’s singles), Wong Pei Tty ( women’s doubles) and Chin Eei Hui (mixed doubles). And he wants them to step up to the plate. “We don’t need a new technical director or a chief coach or a supremo any more. All head coaches will report to the C&T. This is the new structure,” said Norza.
“I’ve got the commitment from all of them. They all have to be more responsible and accountable. The honeymoon days are over.
“The good old days of being complacent are over.
“We want the coaches and players to work hard and we’ll give them all the support they need. If they perform well, they will be rewarded.”
OTHER MATTERS/DECISIONS
* BAM have reviewed the incentive package for players and coaches to include retirement benefits and scholarship options in order to reward merit-based performances and prevent mediocrity.
* To inculcate in the players a winning mentality and to come up with a top-class reward package matching the high Key Performance Index (KPI) target. With that, coaches and players will be held accountable for their performances.
* Agreed to split up Olympic silver medallists Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong.
* To retain the partnerships of Woon Khe Wei-Vivian Hoo. It will be reviewed six months later.
* The RM500,000 state-of-the-art gymnasium at ABM will begin operation from end of October. No need to travel to Bukit Jalil.
* To sign a memorandum of understanding with Universiti Malaya for additional sports science services.