Even Ferguson or Klopp can't guarantee us winning

The young police officer in uniform and the medals entered the room and saluted the men seated at the table. It was a promotion interview – from chief inspector to assistant superintendent of police.

What are medals for? he was asked.

“This is from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. These were awarded for my services to the country. I represented our hockey team at the Montreal and Los Angeles Olympics,” replied the officer.

“If you go around the world playing hockey, someone else is doing your job. He deserves to move up more than you,” he was told.

Ow Soon Kooi quit the force but was lucky. He and his partners ventured into a host of business activities. But what about the others like former international Salahuddin Che Ros who was forced to sleep on the streets?

Deputy Sports Minister Steven Sim’s absorbing commentary is poignant and would have touched anyone with any connection to sports. He could not have put it more aptly and plainly with the underlining message that help is needed.

In saying that “the ministry is in a reform mode,” there is a glimmer of hope that things will change and the expression of his thoughts are mere rhetoric.

The proposals that he has outlined need a bit of tweaking. Not by politicians, wannabes and publicity-seekers pretending to be experts but by experienced connoisseurs – sportsmen and sports officials who have a genuine desire to advance the cause.

There are many things that need to be shaken down and straightened out. We have to agree with the sportsmen that there is no independent body where athletes can air their grievances.

There was no sports ministry or the National Sports Council (NSC) when the Malaysian football team qualified for the Munich Olympics in 1972; cinder tracks never existed when the likes of Mani Jegathesan and Karu Selvaratnam were setting records in the '50s and '60s on grass and bitumen tracks which stood for decades.

All is now history with technology and money. Like a phoenix rising, the Sports Ministry was transformed into a godfather with millions to throw. Remember the RM490 million they wanted to splurge on a “forward training base” in Brickendonbury, England?

Remember the RM18 million which went down the drain when it acted as a sports impresario and organised the World Youth Cup? And the RM10 million for the Women’s Games which brought no tangible results except that all participants had a nice tracksuit to show?

But no; some people thought that money can produce results. Let us be realistic - you can hire Alex Ferguson or Jorgen Klopp for our national team but even they can’t guarantee to win a regional tournament like the Suzuki Cup.

Sending athletes to the best training centres around the world will come to nought if there is no commitment and the will to succeed. Not too long ago, we sent some to Kiev. It was a grand party in a foreign land at taxpayers’ expense.

How much and how the money was spent on preparations (including overseas jaunts) for the Olympics in London and Rio is still a rahsia (secret) using government parlance. Perhaps, in “new Malaysia”, there is hope for some form of transparency and accountability.

The expenses (without fail) cover the lawatan sambil belajar of some officials. Walk into the rooms for some NSC officials and you would note that on the walls there are more accreditation cards to events than sportsmen themselves!

Not feasible

With the fresh faces at the helm, there needs to be re-think of the roles of the ministry and the NSC in particular. Should it revert to being a funding agency allowing national sports associations (NSAs) to administer sports? Instead of getting involved in selection, coaching and training which should be left to the NSAs?

Shouldn’t our sportsmen be taught how to manage their money or look after their livelihood upon retirement or will they be left to fend for themselves after retirement?

As part of a sports law programme, I was sent to the National Sports Law Institute at the Marquette University in Wisconsin. I spent a couple of days with attorney Marty Green who had more than a dozen footballers, ice hockey players and baseball players under him.

He managed their money - earnings and winnings and invested in stocks, property and even steakhouses. These would be their nest eggs upon their retirement.

Sim’s assertion that “athletes are treated like tools for sports” is the perfect description of the current state of affairs. It would be wrong if we do not add that they are also tools for political advancement. In other countries, players hug their coaches and mentors after a game but in the Malaysian context, officials run onto the court or the pitch to be hugged – for TV cameras.

Sim has outlined plans to allow our athletes to focus their full effort on excelling in their games. Firstly, by extending medical protection to all serving national athletes as well as former athletes who have represented Malaysia.

But it is nothing new. Many years ago, Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) was set up to look after retired athletes and funds were allocated for this purpose. Today, there’s hardly any money left. Let us not have a repeat.

He also plans to send the first batch of national athletes into the job market under Malaysian Athletes’ Dual-Track Career Programme. This will enable athletes to be placed in the private sector for an agreed amount of time in a week. What kind of work and do the athletes have the requisite qualifications?

Sim’s idea of getting the NSC set up a mechanism which will allow athletes to be better consulted and engaged is not feasible. As long as it is controlled by people within, the voices will be stifled for fear of repercussion. Why not a council of sports elders a’la “new Malaysia”?

Overall, the deputy minister’s proposals are progressive - for use of a better word. To implement them and take them to the next level, he needs help. He can rope in several athletes and officials who have done yeomen service for sports. They have the experience, skill and knowledge to help make this a great sports nation again.

I would not venture into naming them lest I am accused of being biased but there are so many of them waiting to do “national service” if asked.

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R NADESWARAN began his career as a sports reporter almost five decades ago and still follows the games with great interest. He has written extensively on the shenanigans in the ministry and the NSC. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com - Mkini