How much will Malaysian badminton miss Norza?

 

What came first at the start of Norza Zakaria’s seven-year reign as president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)?

The doom and gloom among fans over the lack of team trophies or individual titles?

Or the players’ inability to cope with the pressure and win those major medals that fired the doom and gloom?

Perhaps, the angst and impatience was due to the indifference towards the grassroots, where morale was on the floor.

For Norza, the three factors were prevalent in Malaysian badminton then, resembling vain attempts to sprint through quicksand.

To put it another way, it was a difficult job for a sports leader. Even for one as determined as Norza, who repeatedly talked of the need for time and patience.

He offered the notion of his two kinds of love: tough and tougher. He demanded unity, selflessness and excitement, putting into his players and his staff a commitment to the cause that was beyond going to work or playing badminton.

From the outset, he preached the virtues of sacrifice, the need for total immersion in the mission and the needed mentality.

He did more than speak it. He fused the intensity and urgency of hard work into everyone as hard as his attention to detail on the administration of BAM.

Everyone had to trust him, to follow him. Most did, and players, coaches and officials were no longer indulged and excused.

He knew if supporters could see a plan and progress, if they could enjoy the matches, they would get on board even if titles were a long shot.

Norza retired as BAM chief last week and there’s much debate over his departure from the sport as people assess his legacy.

Some have decried the progress made by Malaysian badminton under Norza because it has been 32 years since the country won the Thomas Cup under the leadership of Elyas Omar.

Trophies are the ultimate expression of success and just like the two bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, they are to be celebrated, valued and aspired to.

The Thomas Cup would have offered some sort of validation for the work Norza has done, but Malaysia doesn’t have the shuttlers to become the world team champions.

The cyclical argument that rages and then recedes almost every Thomas Cup campaign has been there under previous BAM presidents, Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan (1993-2000), Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh (2000-2013), Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff (2013-2015) and Mohd Al-Amin Abdul Majid (Acting, 2015-2017).

It is sad if some still seek to stick to the Thomas Cup failure and overlook the individual achievements, the emergence of young players, and the sound finances and governance of BAM, to undermine Norza’s legacy.

What’s next?

The job of his successor will be to push the boat further out – to manage an evolution, not lead a revolution.

This is no ordinary badminton job, no regular vacancy, and to follow Norza’s level of success is going to take nerves of steel and enormous self-confidence.

The positives are that BAM is in good shape on and off the court and players capable of delivering success for years to come are emerging.

No doubt there will always be some who hold that badminton has not progressed with their own memories of how Norza has supposedly behaved to his own rules.

Norza, let’s not sugarcoat it, could be cold with little thought about how his actions impinge on those who defy changes, according to some.

Others say despite the fearsome reputation, he always respects opinion, honestly held and rooted in a feel and love for badminton.

His close associates said there were acts of kindness amid his brilliance and confrontation, and he has always remained compassionate, like protecting and pushing those he has cared for to the highest of merits in badminton.

Yes, there were times when his relationship with the media was fraught and it felt like he was at war with the industry. Yet that has been sometimes overplayed, too.

The stakes have been raised for his successor. It might not be the easiest of tasks to better what Norza has achieved, or even to run it close.

Norza did not get it right immediately and it is going to take a strong character to step on to this elevated plateau of success and not be struck by complacency.

How the landscape of badminton changed

It cannot be denied that the landscape of Malaysian badminton has changed considerably during the Norza era.

The tributes from players, coaches, management staff, sponsors and friends reflect the sadness that most people feel, because this is the exit of an underrated sports leader.

Many talked effusively about the key markers during his tenure, saying it seems unfeasible that Norza would have left at a stage when things are looking brighter for badminton.

Under his leadership, Malaysia won 36 Badminton World Federation (BWF) titles, including the country’s first World Championship title through doubles pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik.

Before that he helped the legend Lee Chong Wei rise to World Number 1.

He increased the allowances and incentives for players and coaches to ensure those who represent our nation do so without the worry of financial insecurity.

To nurture talent, he significantly increased the allocation to state badminton associations, and established Akademi Badminton Malaysia in 2017.

In June, he unveiled a groundbreaking transformation plan in a tie-up with private consulting firm, Pemandu Associates, to ensure Malaysia remains a top badminton nation.

The partnership is aimed at enhancing BAM’s operations, fast tracking improvements to meet new trends, strengthening the local badminton ecosystem, and also to claim Malaysia’s spot among the top three nations in badminton in the lead-up to the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

To secure the financial future of BAM, he initiated the sale of the Cheras badminton facility, but it was not just about selling; he ensured BAM acquired 0.8ha (two acres) of nearby land worth RM55 million. He then went on to capture landmark sponsorships for the association.

A tribute from BAM read: 

We are not bidding farewell to a leader, we are celebrating a legacy – a legacy of passion, integrity and visionary leadership which will be felt for generations to come.

End of an era. How much will Norza be missed? - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.