BADMINTON: You're wasting time, BAM

By K.M. BOOPATHY boopathy@nst.com.my

NOT SERIOUS: Delay in hiring a chief coach could prove disastrous

THE BA of Malaysia (BAM) is adopting a wait-and-see attitude over its move to have a chief coach although South Korean Park Joo Bong may be available if the association is serious in changing the current structure.

Joo Bong, the head coach of Japan, is said to be returning home after the South Korea BA sacked all their coaching staff due to the failure in the recent London Olympics but Kim Jong Soo is reported to have replaced current chief coach Sung Han Kook.

If the BAM acts fast enough, he could be heading to Malaysia again as the chief coach.

BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai, however, said it is still too early to decide on the choice of coaches before a revamp is carried out on the current programme where each department is headed by a coach.

The coaching and training committee (CTC), which will meet on Sept 8, should be able to give a clearer picture of the new structure and the status of Joo Bong in Malaysian badminton. Chin Chai is also the CTC chairman.

"There is set to be changes in the current structure but we haven't finalised it yet. Malaysia's performance in the Olympics and the changes needed will be discussed in the CTC and we can get a clearer picture after that," said Chin Chai.

"There has not been any formal discussion with any coach because we don't know yet what the new structure will be.

"Even the future of Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong will be discussed and a decision can be reached there."

Although Chin Chai is keeping things under wraps, it is expected that two former national coaches, Wong Tat Meng and Cheah Soon Kit, are likely to return to BAM.

Tat Meng, whose short stint with the Indonesia BA (PBSI) has ended, is likely to be re-appointed as the women's doubles coach while Soon Kit, the chief coach of private outfit, Looi Academy, could add strength to the men's doubles department.

BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh has hinted that appointing a chief coach or director of coaching is being seriously looked into and Joo Bong appears to be one of the most experienced coaches capable of handling the job.

Malaysia's current system hasn't brought much success. Rashid Sidek is the men's singles chief coach, the women's singles is headed by Chi Zhanrong, men's doubles is under Tan Kim Her while Rosman Razak is the women's doubles and mixed doubles head coach.

BAM has so far refrained from appointing a chief coach, citing a lack of quality candidates as a reason and has not been making a positive move to hire Joo Bong.

Joo Bong, who was Malaysia's men's doubles coach, has been doing a creditable job in Japan where the nation secured their first Olympic medal through Muzuki Fujii-Reika Kakiiwa in London.

It will be a disaster if Malaysia continue with the same system again until 2016.

South Korea’s Park Joo Bong was Malaysia’s men’s doubles coach.

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BADMINTON: You're wasting time, BAM

NOT SERIOUS: Delay in hiring a chief coach could prove disastrous

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