We’re in this together: Rexy (right) says he’s looking forward to working with Dane Kenneth Jonassen to bring up the level of the men’s singles.
PETALING JAYA: It is one stressful job but Rexy Mainaky has been handling it well as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) national coaching director.
And so, what’s the secret?
“I sleep well at night,” said the 56-year-old Rexy.
“When I go back home, I don’t talk about badminton. I enjoy watching football and that has kept me relaxed,” added Rexy, who is an ardent Arsenal supporter.
Since taking over the supremo’s job in September last year following the departure of Wong Choong Hann, Rexy has hit the ground running to raise the standard of Malaysian badminton.
All eyes had been on him for the past one year but he had handled all the overwhelming attention and pressure quite well.
There have been some good results in some tournaments but the hope to end Malaysia’s agonising wait for an Olympic Games gold medal had continued when the BAM only contributed one bronze medal through Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik.
In fact, Rexy said he has no tinge of regret on taking up the job.
“I only see this task and all challenges as a challenge to push me to achieve unaccomplished goals,” said Rexy.
“For instance, one of the biggest challenges is to raise the standard of the men’s singles department. I’m looking forward to working even harder to bring up the level in this department together with singles head coach Kenneth Jonassen.
Former Danish player and coach Jonassen will start work next week.
“I hope all the coaches (K. Yogendran and Alvin Chew) will work together with him and I will be able to work well too so that together, we can make the singles department strong again,” said Rexy.
He, however, has one regret though – to see players and coaches leaving the BAM set-up.
“It’s hard to explain but I do find it difficult when players or coaches leave. I just feel down as we have been together,” said Rexy.
Rexy’s trustworthy coach Tan Bin Shen, whom he had groomed since he arrived, would be leaving to Hong Kong next year after the Malaysian Open from Jan 7-12 at the Axiata Arena.
Several players over the years have also left to give professional badminton a shot.
But being a player himself before, Rexy does not let anything stop him from achieving his goal - in fact, after every fall, he had only bounced back stronger.
“I’m able to keep going here (in Malaysia) because I came here with two goals. I took up the challenge to help Malaysia win the world title and we have achieved it (via Aaron-Wooi Yik),” he said.
“My second dream is still unfulfilled and that is to deliver the Olympic Games gold medal. I’m now looking forward to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games and the focus is all about that.
“I have good support here. But good support does not mean that all is good all the time but we do have arguments. But these arguments are solely because we want to find the best solutions for all our challenges.
“I’m motivated and I will guide our team to have the same excitement as we enter 2025.”
