How low can we go?

Monday, December 16, 2013 - The Malay Mail

ENOUGH is enough. The Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (STAM), headed by Datuk Ahmad Ismail (pic) , will have to once and for all take responsibility for the continuous rot in the game.

The latest debacle was at the Myanmar Sea Games on Friday where the men’s sepak takraw team picked up a bronze medal after finishing last and failing to win a match. It is indeed embarrassing for a nation who were kingpins of the game not too long ago.
Malaysia ended the four-team round robin competition with a 2-1 defeat to Indonesia, lost to host Myanmar 2-1 and Thailand 3-0.
Sepak takraw was introduced by Malaysia and we once ruled the sport. Now Thailand rule, with Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore and even Myanmar taking us to the cleaners.
The current state and status of the sport did not arrive overnight. In fact, the writing has been on the wall for the last five to six years, but STAM seem to be in denial.
Sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin had taken STAM to task two months ago after the team’s loss to South Korea in the ISTAF Super Series leg in India and threatened to stop their RM1 million allocation per year.
But Ismail is immune to threats, as it had happened during previous sport minister’s terms and when National Sports Council (NSC) took a firm stand to cut financial aid, he accused them of not supporting the sport.
Ahmad is known for his controversial actions and remarks made in the fields of politics, business and sports. He normally has his way in the end and with new promises and plans, he continues to stay afloat.
However, the sport is the loser because it has hardly shown much progress.
Maybe Ahmad simply has too much on his plate to give his full-time attention to revive the sport.
But plans, Ahmad has many. Like pursuing to get an allocation of RM8.8 million to run a development programme for 17 months which was supposed to have been started in August.
When Malaysia are struggling to save their reputation, STAM are more interested in hosting the World Cup which they did two years ago.
Money spent on organising the world tournament, could be better used for the development and promotion of the game with the future in mind.
STAM have to seriously look at the sport and determine whether it enjoys popularity among the masses.
Is sepak takraw still played passionately every evening until failing light in the kampungs, districts and schools? Are there development programmes in place? Are the state associations doing enough to develop young talent? Are there enough coaches to coach the young? Are there enough or even any talent-scouts going the length and breadth of the nation to scout for fresh talent? Are the players passionate about the game and above all disciplined, determined and dedicated to excel in the game? These are questions that need to be answered urgently and with immediate solutions coming forth.
The last thing we need is to be still struggling by the time Malaysia host the Sea Games in 2017 and to face the embarrassment of losing to minnows in our own backyard.

We are doomed at our own game!

Now the Thais are beating Malaysia at the Junior level too! (see Bernama story below)
Sepak Takraw is a game Malaysia introduced to World.
The senior national team have already lost the grip losing not only to Thailand, but other Asean countries too.
While there was hope that Malaysia will regain its supremacy with some good development work at the grassroot level, it looks like it will not happen.
So we are doomed at our own game!

Thailand Beat Malaysia To Win Sepak Takraw Gold

PUTRAJAYA, July 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia had to be contended with a silver medal in sepak takraw after going down 1-2 to Thailand in the final of the Asean Schools Games (ASG) at Dewan Komuniti Presint 11 here Friday.
Malaysia's first regu comprising Ahmad Aizat Mohd Nor Azmi, Putera Aidil Israfil Kamarazuman and Mohd Nazri Hafiz Mohd Najib lost tamely to Thailand's Nattapon Kraiwan, Yuwapong Pamon and Thanawut Song Tuan, 21-7, 21-15 in straight sets.
However, Malaysia's second regu raised some hopes when Muhammad Zulkifli Abdul Razak, Muhammad Aiman Fouzi and Norhazwan Nafiram beat Thailand's Purached Yodsan, Panupong Petlue and Treepong Rawangpai 21-17, 21-18.
But the Thais won the deciding game with tekong Santisuk Ngoenkongpang using his powerful services and Pichit Pansan finishing off his 'killer' blows to beat Muhamad Nazmi Mohd Najib, Mohd Khairol Zaman Hamir Akhbar and Muhamad Suhairi Sulaiman 21-17, 21-13.
Indonesia and Brunei were awarded bronze medals as losing semifinalists.
"Thailand were the better side but it was a good exposure for our players, especially those from the back up squad," Malaysia's assistant team manager Razuki Abdul Rahim told Bernama after the match.
-- BERNAMA

The writing was on the wall

It was warned in this blog six months ago, not to allow a Laos Sea Games failure by sepak takraw to be the final nail to the coffin for this game (Read here)

The slide was not checked then and now after the Laos debacle, everyone is reacting. (Read this).

The Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek too took to task national associations who had failed in Laos (Read here).

Is it not a little too late to cry over split milk?

It is the same with many sports in the country. When a crack or decline in a sports is detected, no effort is made to make amends immediately.

We have this tendency to believe that everything will be take care of itself.

Yes it will take care of itself - reach the bottom of the barrel!

It is real sad that we are now talking about how to regain our past glory, in sepak takraw - sport which Malaysia introduced to the world.

This is what happens when things are taken for granted and complacency sets in.

Many sports have suffered the same fate or are on the way to suffer the same fate.

It is about time to once and for all take a serious stock check and get rid of all the ills in sports association - be it incompetent management personnel, administration flaws, financial woes, mismanagement of funds, lack of development programmes, lack of coaches, poor training programmes, in-house squabbles, welfare of athletes neglected and the list can go on.

But addressing the problem does not mean that National Sports Council (NSC) taking over the sports, but solve the issue in the associations and get it back on a better footing to start all over again.

NSC by all means should keep tab of associations, set KPIs, pull the plug when they slack, give guidance and teach the associations to stand on their own feet.

Do they should not take them on the easy path by spoon feeding them and running things for them.

Engage the national associations, but do not pamper them or have favourites and untouchables, or otherwise what has happened to sepak takraw will staring right into the faces in no time!

Another one bites the dust

How low can we go?

That's the question on Malaysian sports lovers lips after the Malaysian sepak takraw teams loss to Indonesia in the semifinals of the World Cup Sepak Takraw championship in Kuala Terengganu last weekend.

Sepak takraw was introduced by Malaysia and we ruled the sports. Now Thailand rule, with Vietnam, Indonesia and Singapore all being threats to our status.

Even in women sepak takraw, we have failed to make an impact.

Soon, we will talking about yesteryears when we ruled in sepak takraw, just like soccer and hockey.

Something drastic has to be done soon to stop the rot and the current administration must be held responsible for the state of the game.

If they cannot do something to regain our supremacy in the game soon, they may have to make way for some fresh blood.

But what is the real problem in the declining standards in sepak takraw besides taking the administration to task?

It is no different from all the other sports in Malaysia which have taken a nose-dive - it no longer enjoys the popularity among the masses.

Is sepak takraw still played passionately every evening until failing light in the kampungs, districts and schools? Are there development programmes set in place? Are the State associations doing enough to develop young talent.? Are there enough coaches to coach the young? Is there enough or even any talent-scouts going around the length and breadth of the nation to scout for fresh talent? Are the players themselves passionate about the game and above all disciplined, determined and dedicated to excel in the game?(Refer to this story)

These are questions that need to be answered urgently and with immediate solutions coming forth.

Maybe it is time for sepak takraw authorities to seriously consider having a 1Malaysia team. (Refer to this story)

Let us not face another embarrassment in the Laos Sea Games at the end of the year, for the final nail to be placed in yet another Malaysian sports.
A wake-up call is in order to rise and shine again!