Foul!

Image: National Sports Council, Malaysia The focus seems to be on the Podium Programme for obvious reasons. After all, those behind the programme had set high targets but have to date failed twice – failing to finish top ten in both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. While the knives are out for those behind the Podium Programme, a programme under the National Sports Institute, let’s not forget another programme under the National Sports Council – Kita Juara . On Sept 7, 2015, The Star (in its article ‘ Kita Juara’programme launched in bid for SEA Games glory ') quoted former Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin as saying: “The ‘Kita Juara’ programme will lay the foundation for future success ... it’s not short-sighted. “There’s no point becoming overall winners at the 2017 SEA Games and then let it all go downhill once more.”  Malaysia became the overall winners at last year’s SEA Games – winning 145 gold medals, 92 silver medals and 86...

Another 'fairy tale' this week: 1) National athlete has a coach up until the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games. 2) The national athlete is then left on his own immediately after regional Games. 3) National athlete prepares for 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast without a coach. 4) National athlete appeals to the stakeholders, including Olympic Council of Malaysia, requesting if a coach can join the national contingent. Request denied. 5) National athlete was not too sure what was his KPI for Gold Coast. 6) Now national athlete is preparing for Asian Games - once again without a coach. 7) National athlete is once again unsure what is the KPI for the Games in Jakarta-Palembang. 8) Isn't it the onus of the stakeholders to ensure the national athlete has a coach? The national coach is after all under a programme initiated by an agency under the Youth and Sports Ministry. 9) And since some officials love playing the blame game and shooting the messenger, let's...