Thursday October 22, 2009

Develop bigger pool of talents

I AGREE with the National Sports Council’s concern that Squash Rackets Association of Malaysia is not doing enough to develop young talents. The panic button should have been pressed a long time ago.

SRAM may disagree as they can quote you the numerous age group tournaments currently being held throughout the year to assist in unearthing young talents in squash. I do not deny that in terms of providing platforms to encourage talent in squash, Malaysia is among the best in the world.

However, it is what happens at the grassroots, state and eventually up to the national level that worries me. As in most sports, there is so much politicking going on within the association, both at the national and state levels, that its main objective to raise the level of the sport has become so obscured that it is no longer the priority of the association.

People are too busy manipulating and manoeuvring to ensure that their respective positions are safe and their personal interests are protected.

The development programmes at all levels should look into developing a bigger group of players instead of just focusing on one or two players. By developing bigger groups, this would translate to healthier competition.

State associations sometimes provide a chosen player with extra one-to-one coaching, sometimes at the expense of other players. When those not chosen – and their parents – see the disparity and become disgruntled as time goes on, the parents will just pull their children out of the programme.

Of course, the association would not feel impacted (and probably say good riddance) because that was what they wanted all along. But what they do not realise is that this could also mean that at some point in time, that chosen player may also become stagnant as he would not have the competition to spur him on further.

Due to this practice of focusing on one chosen player, it has also created an unhealthy atmosphere as parents will jostle and do whatever it takes to make sure that their child becomes the chosen one.

Things can get downright ugly and the association committee members do not do anything about it and at times seem to be encouraging it. I have seen this happening with my own eyes and I am sure the SRAM is also very much aware of this not just at the state but also the national level as well.

So until such time these practices and culture of favouritism are put to a stop, we would be so lucky if we can find a deserving heir to Nicol’s throne.

RAKYAT BIASA,

Petaling Jaya.

News Poll

Latest Jobs from Star-Jobs

Latest from StarProperty