Don’t discriminate, please
Local coaches can deliver if given proper mandate, guidance, support and chance
OVER the past few days, several local coaches have put a smile back on my face.
While reminiscing about his former star shuttler Lee Chong Wei, coach Teh Peng Huat of Penang expressed how much he loved the game.
At one stage, the 75-year-old even got to his feet to show some badminton moves and tricks – drawing not only laughter but also admiration for his energy, zeal and charisma.
Then, there are the other two 75year-olds – coaches Moe Chin Keat and Yap Beng Tong, who have unearthed many badminton talents and still quietly going about their task minus all the limelight and glamour.
In football, national coach Datuk K. Rajagopal comes to mind. Despite all the criticisms, he continued to stand tall as he guided the national team into the semi-finals of the ongoing AFF Suzuki Cup.
Then last Saturday, bowling chief coach Holloway Cheah continued to weave his magic wand and churned yet another winner in Syafiq Ridhwan Abdul Malek, who became the country’s first AMF World Cup champion in Poland.
Who says Malaysia do not have local coaches who are colourful, charismatic and capable of delivering results?
Sadly, in some instances, local coaches are treated like second-class citizens and not given the chance to prove themselves.
Sometimes, the poor management of coaches has led to some good ones leaving the scene in sheer frustration – and mediocre ones are then chosen for the hot seat.
Just take a look at what’s happening in the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). They are searching for another outsider to be their national coaching director after South Korea’s Park Joo-bong turned down their offer recently.
Why don’t BAM take a leap of faith and hand over that portfolio to a local coach?
No, I’m not against foreign coaches. Some have done wonders for the sports that they coached.
In fact, I salute Hendrawan’s commitment in reviving the country’s back-up squad and I’ll be the first one to say ‘syabas’ if Joo-bong is hired.
But the Korean is not available now, so why skim through the already limited number of coaches outside when there are potential ones within?
Local coaches like Peng Huat, Chin Keat, Beng Tong and others like Misbun Sidek and late Datuk Punch Gunalan had done well in their own right.
Yes, they did not produce instant success. Instead, they learnt from their mistakes and improved year by year.
We have a few potential candidates for the national coaching director’s post in the likes of Misbun, Razif Sidek, Cheah Soon Kit, Kwan Yoke Meng, Wong Choong Hann and Yap Kim Hock.
They can do the job – provided they are given the mandate, the right guidance, support and chance.
Another problem is that apart from the lack of trust in local coaches, there also exists double standards when it comes to salary and incentives.
Why paya foreign coach RM30,000 and a local coach just RM12,000 to do the same job?
And let’s not forget that the foreign coaches also get other perks – like house, car and travel bonuses.
The National Sports Council (NSC) should review their salary schemes for coaches and come out with a standard scale for both the local and foreign coaches.
The Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC) president Datuk Dr P. S. Nathan made an interesting comment upon welcoming Syafiq and Holloway at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang on Monday: “Holloway is overworked but underpaid. Coaches from our neighbouring countries, like Singapore, earn much more.” Nathan got it spot-on! It doesn’t matter whether they are local or foreign coaches – they should be paid well if they deliver the goods.
Some of our local coaches have proven themselves, so it’s only right to give them the due recognition and responsibilities.