Have faith! (The Malay Mail)

A TOP Ethiopian official, whose country has produced some of the world's
finest distance runners, urged Malaysia to have more confidence in local
coaches.
 Ferrou Kidane, director of the International Olympic Council (IOC)
Executive Office of the President and their Department of International
Cooperation and Communication, made this call in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
 In recent years, Malaysia have imported more than a 100 foreign coaches
as part of the Commonwealth Games preparations.
 Kidane's timely call for a show of faith in local coaches received warm
applause from officials of the various sport associations, the Education
Ministry, Sports Ministry and National Sports Council (NSC).
 A former teacher turned journalist who worked for the United Nations for
nearly 14 years, Kidane has been with the Olympic Movement since 1989.
 "The problem with developing countries is that we have no confidence in
ourselves," he said.
 "And it's about time local coaches are given due prominence and
recognition.
 "I have seen many developing countries whose teams had done well to
qualify for the soccer World Cup. But at the Finals, it is foreigners who
handle the teams.
 "The local coaches did all the groundwork and, in many instances, seen
their teams through to the Finals.
 "But four to five months before the World Cup, the local coaches
suddenly become not good enough and foreign coaches are hired.
 "As long as we have this mentality, sports in developing countries will
always be in the backwaters," he said.
 Kidane said coaches from developing countries have proven to be more
than competent in several sports.
 "For instance, Malaysia's badminton coaches will have a better knowledge
of the game than most of their foreign counterparts.
 "While it is good to learn from foreign coaches, we cannot depend on
them forever. We have to stand on our own feet sooner or later," said
Kidane.
 The topics discussed at the forum included the Olympic Movement, the
development of physical education and sports in Malaysia, and co-operation
among national sport organisations.
 The delegates also touched on sports administration, technical
assistance and international relations.
 Among the speakers were FAM general secretary Datuk Paul Mony, Physical
Education and Fitness Association of Malaysia president Dr Leonard de
Vires and Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) secretary-general Aziz
Mohamad.
                              (END)