ULTIMATUM FROM BAM BOSS
National shuttlers given three months to buck up
IN a move to turn around the deteriorating fortunes of the national team, BAM president, Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria has come down hard on the national players and coaches. Following the team’s poor showing of late, Norza has given the head coaches an ultimatum — improve the standards of the shuttlers in the next three months.
Failing which, these players will be dropped from the national squad.
On Sunday, Norza lost his cool when none of the national shuttlers made it past the quarter-finals of the All England. This is a far cry from last year’s edition, when Lee Chong Wei emerged as champion while mixed doubles duo Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying reached the final.
As a result of the setbacks, Norza called for a meeting with all five head coaches yesterday at the Academy Badminton Malaysia, which led to them getting the ultimatum.
“You know that I am very disappointed with the players. I called the coaches in today and told them that in the next three months these players must show improvement or we will have to ship them out. We cannot do this any longer.
“I also told the coaches that the players’ performances are a reflection of them, so they must do something about it.
“In fact, I even requested members of the National Podium Programme to attend the meeting, so they are all in the loop.
“The next thing is I have also asked Jadadish Chandra (BAM rules, discipline and integrity committee member) to come up with a mechanism to watch the players’ discipline. Like a watchdog.
“It’s sad when these players go overseas, lose early, and then with no remorse at all, start posting about the fun they are having on social media. This has to stop,” said an upset Norza.
Norza also revealed that the national body have decided to rope in former national shuttlers, Azriyn Ayub, Arif Latif and Lim Khim Wah on a threemonth probation to beef up the men’s doubles department.
The arrival of these players is a reminder to the national players not take things lightly and think that they are irreplaceable.
“There is a growing concern with the men’s doubles department, so we are giving these players a three-month probation with the national team. They also stand a chance of making the Thomas Cup squad, if they impress us,” added Norza.
I also told the coaches that the players’ performances are a reflection of them, so they must do something about it.
BAM president