Looking ahead

AS we usher in another New Year in two days time, sports enthusiasts of the country will look back to see what has been achieved and what the New Year has in store.

A stock check is indeed in order, with 2007 being the nation’s 50^th year of independence.

While many efforts are going to be made to reminisce the “good old days of sports in the nation” and to record all the golden moments to celebrate the occasions, it is even more important that the years ahead of us see better moments to be remembered.

After all, that’s what progression all about – to get better with times.

Of course, critics will say that sports over the last two decades have taken a downward trend because of many factors – both internal within in the sports fraternity and external where changing times of the modern society has seen parents and children give less importance to sports.

And there is certainly truth in the views of the critics because it is a fact of the matter.

However, if the critics continue to critisise, without giving constructive solutions, it is not going to help sports one bit.

That is why it is sad to see efforts by parties like the National Sports Associations (NSAs), Olympic Council of Malaysia and the Youth and Sports Ministry through the National Sports Council (NSC) to raise the standards of sports in the country, getting knocked down and being impatient to see the end results.

Nothing in life happens overnight and it is no different in sports. Everything needs effort, planning, execution and continuous effort, planning and execution.

For the New Year, the Cabinet Committee for Sports headed by the Deputy Prime Minister himself, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Are expected to meet in January and top of the discussion will be the Doha Asian Games for it was suppose to be yardstick for review and further stand of Government funding.

While there are different schools of thoughts on the Malaysian contingent’s performance in Doha, the fact that performance generally improved.

Of course, some sports were a down, while others stepped up to deliver.

Maybe the time has come for Malaysian sports not to spread itself thin and wide in their search for success in sports.

It should concentrate on a few sports that have shown potential and delivered in the patch. A few more sports where there is potential to do well at the world class field because physique does not into the picture like archery and shooting to name two, should be given support, but at development level so that the sports can be developed for the future.

Generally, the mandate should be given to work on sports which have been managed well as professionals, have a sound development programmes, have the manpower resources to carry out the programmes effectively, and have a track record of performance like badminton, squash and bowling.

Another group of sports, who are beginning to shown signs of positiveness like athletics, must be assisted by on a selective basis.

Others like hockey and soccer will have to give more emphasis on development.

In any programmes there will be success and failures, but for a continued process, there has to be movement forward using the positive aspects of each programme as a stepping stone.

From the Jaya Program in 1998, all following programs have been continuous programmes for specific events. In addition, along the process, we will have athletes who fall out, while others emerge as newcomers and go on to establish themselves, while we will have the “old faithfuls” who will continue to perform to stay in the program.

Malaysian sports next two events are the December Sea Games in Thailand and next year’s Olympics in China.

Cuts are expected to make the programs trim and lean, but all indications are that sports will continue to get the support it has been getting all this while.

But to make it all worthwhile, there has been a concerted joint effort from the NSAs, OCM and NSC.

There needs to be professionalism on everyone’s part – be it athletes, officials, coaches or even administrators.

There certainly has to be accountability and running to hide when trouble hits the fence or even worse shifting the blame to others will not do.

There also needs to be transparency from all quarters to ensure that everything is above board and that all programs are run effectively and well.

Let us make this 50 years independence a meaningfully one, by having to show some real progress in sports and not just imaginary ones or yesteryears glories we have to fall back to give a pat on our backs.

Doha experience (December 2006 - Malaysian Today)

Doha experience

THE 15th Asian Games comes to an end today in Doha and while countries return either elated, contended or disappointed with their performance in the Games, the host themselves will be judged.

It is without doubt that the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) have gone out of their way to make this Games successful mainly through the money splashed to a tune of about three billion US dollars.

So much so that all the important aspects of organising the Games has left in the experienced hands of organising personnel from the Sydney and Athens Olympics.

Qatar with the population of 700,000 of which only about 300,000 are Qataris, certainly had manpower woes and their approach to get hired hands was understandable.

However, European invasion of the Games in Doha, saw the Games lose the Asian spirit of friendliness, warmth and hospitality.

Many, be it athletes, officials, media or even foreign visitors to the Games have left or will leave Doha, disappointed with the way they have been treated.

I have covered the Hiroshima Asian Games in 1994 and Bangkok Asian Games 1998 and still cherish the memories of being treated as a guest with their warmth, friendliness and charm.

But here in Doha, all we got was arrogance and being treated like criminals.

Even the locals who were involved in the Games did not make it pleasant because of the natural rough nature they talk.

Malaysian officials, athletes and media personnel had complains from day 1 to the day they left of being treated badly.

To make it worse, the Greeks and Australians who were hired to run the Games even more high handed in their approach that it made many wonder if it was the Asian Games or the European Games!

It was the Games for Asians and we were made to feel like aliens at own Games.

The only hospitality shown during the Games was the volunteers and hospitality staff at the Protocol Lounges who comprised mainly of Asians.

And to make matters worse, these volunteers and hospitality staff were treated badly by the Europeans who were their heads or supervisors.

There were instances when Malaysian athletes and officials were prevented from joining the victory ceremonies, not allowed to walk out exit gates because it was only meant for accredited cars and asked to walk hundreds of meters around for the pedestrians exit, accreditation cards literally snatched by security cards to check and there were 101 don’ts.

Chief technical delegates who were running the respective sports, including Malaysians, were not even allowed to the arena to conduct their daily business.

Many of the security guards were following instructions like robots and did not use their discretion or common-sense when the situation warranted. Many did not have a clue of what the various abbreviations and numbers used on the tags for access.

To make it worse, their superiors be it Qataris or the Europeans, only made the situation worse by being impossible.

It is hoped such a situation does not happen again in the Asian Games. The Olympic Council of Asia have to seriously think about the capability of local population participation in managing the Games before awarding it.

The last thing we need is for the Asian Games to be run by Europeans and take the very essence of the Games to be truly Asian.

Already we have Germans, Americans, Kenyans, Ethiopians, Senegalese, English and France in the name of naturalization competing for countries in the Asian Games. Soon the Asian Games will no longer look Asian.

Yes we can get foreign expertise for instance the shows for the opening and closing shows, but even then, surely there are able Asians who can do and equally good job if not better.

Let us not sale our Games to the foreigners. Let us be proud of out Games and any milestones made, should belong to the Asians. The colonial days are long over and we certainly do not need to be treated as slaves and outcast in our very own Games.

Besides, the bitter experience here in Doha which as made a nightmare Games rather than an enjoyable and memorable one, the Malaysians will at least return that despite the adversities they managed to stay focus and deliver.

Malaysia will returned with eight gold medals, which bettered the previous Games in Busan’s achievement of six gold and or even surpass the best ever achievement in the Games history of seven gold at the Bangkok Games in 1966.

The total number of medals haul is also the best ever surpassing 30 achieved in Busan, while the silver medal haul to surpasses the best of 13 in Hiroshima.

The gold medal tally certainly could have been higher if not for upsets like in the bodybuilding, karate and the many silvers which were close seconds in the respective sports.

It could have been a better outing, but one which is satisfactory. However, there is plenty of work to be done to move on from where we have reached and a more dedicated effort from the national sports associations is required.

The Government has been funding generously and are expected to continue to do so with the achievements in Doha, but there are some sports who might be put on the mat and they have only to blame themselves.

The onus is now on themselves to rise and fight they way back for recognition for funding from the Government.

And National Sports Council INSC) is also expected to be tougher on national associations seeking funding, as they are expected only to deal and fund those who are managed well with sound development programmes and have proven results.

The time is long overdue for NSC to be cruel to be kind.

Target question (2006 - Malaysian Today)

Target question

THE 15th Asian Games in Doha is well underway and after seven days of competition Malaysia have won two gold , three silver and two bronze medals.

The million ringgit question on everyone’s lips is whether Malaysia is going to surpass their previous Games in Busan’s achievement of six gold or even better to surpass the best ever achievement in the Games history of seven gold at the Bangkok Games in 1966.

But with the National Sports Council (NSC) having come with a “Performance Prospect Assessment” for a haul of nine gold medal, expectations is running even higher.

Many have questioned what on what is this new coined term, Performance Prospect Assessment.

It is certainly no crystal ball gazing or picking up a number from the hat to say that that is the number of gold medals expected to be won.

The figure NSC gave came about assessing athletes current performance, condition as apposed to performances of their opponents currently. A lot of work has been put in by head of Doha Asian Games preparations head, Damien Kelly.

Critics still say that the nine gold medal hopes is still a modest figure.

So what is the magical number then? With not even the media having not come up with the magical gold haul number in Doha, as far as NSC is concerned, it will be looking at the nine gold medal haul.

With bowling already having delivered their 100 percent expectations of two gold medals, although the two won was not in events that they listed down for – men and women team events – but in the women’s singles (Esther Cheah) and men’s trios (Alex Liew, Daniel Lim and Ben Heng), there could be more from them.

Except for the badminton team who has failed to reach the final when they went down to Korea in the semifinals, other projections given by NSC seem to be on target.

But of course silver medals from equestrian, swimming which were not among the medals in NSC’s list is a welcome sign.

But at the sametime, sports which were not in the performance prospect assessment chart, did not mean that they were no hopers. It was just that it was felt that it was more difficult to win medals in these events. As in the case of equestrian no medals were set for them by NSC, as the latter as not involved in the preparation of their athletes.

In anycase, NSC had clearly indicated that every sports which travels to Doha should be aiming for a medal and not just making numbers.

While despite bowling’s deliverance of gold medals, there is an apprehension that Malaysia will not do well.

There is a strong possibility that Malaysia’s gold rush will come next week when the Games will see most sports move to the final stages.

Many sports currently are still in the early stages of their competition while others like karate, athletics wushu and diving yet to start.

The Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Liow Tong Lai who was here to visit the athletes and Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Azalina Othman Said, who is here currently, have both expressed confidence that the athletes will deliver, despite hiccups from sports like badminton.

However, one thing is clear here in Doha, most of the giants at the Games like China, Japan, South Korea and even South East Asian kingpins, Thailand, have all come here with extensive preparation and huge amounts of money pumped to their sports.

Yes, Malaysia too have pumped in money to sports, but it is really compared peanuts when compared to these giants.

Sure, Malaysia’s size of population too is no comparison to these giant nations, but the fact remains that the sports play a vital part in their society and is treated seriously by all including the athletes because it is an opportunity for better living for them.

But for Malaysians who are more often than not in the comfort zone well before they can produce any respectable results, they always feel that there will be another day for them. Malaysia also lacks a good base of athletes in the various sports.

However for the Doha Asian Games, the expected medals should be delivered.

The athletes and coaches realise how important it is for them to perform here and deliver because it has been made clear to all of them of the importance of the Doha Asian if funding from the Government is to continue and increase.

And indications from athletes in Doha is that they will deliver.

Bowling could well be a shining example for other associations as they continue to perform and could well surpass their target by even 100 percent.

A bulk of the gold medal is expected to come this weekend onwards in sports like bodybuilding, karate, squash and wushu.

And it will be little surprise if our athletes even hit the big 10 or even more this time around.

There are bound to be some surprises, like badminton, but it will definitely not be for want for trying.

The performance here in Doha could well be a boost for the future of Malaysian sports.

However, there is a lot more that the athletes themselves have to do if they are to compete at the highest level and perform because competition is only getting tougher at both the world and Asian level.

Malaysia certainly needs a bigger pool of athletes and elite athletes having to excel at the highest level possible.

There is no more room for part-time or athletes who are not serious about sports but just marking their time.

The Government too has to make some bold decisions to send the message clearly to the athletes to emerge as world beaters, consistently and probably in a few selected sports.

It is sincerely hoped that in the next column there will be accolades for the athletes rather than brickbats because this is a do-or-die mission for Malaysian sports.

Nicol booster for Doha (2006 - Malaysian Today)

Nicol booster for Doha

Malaysian sports could not have received a better morale booster for the Doha Asian Games which begin today.

Nicol Ann David first proved that Malaysians can be world champions and even more underlying in feat was that it was not a flash-in-the-pan victory when she went to defend the women’s World Open squash title in Belfast earlier this week.

Make no mistake about it that it is even more difficult to defend one’s crown than to win it the first time.

The petite Nicol who hails from Penang has certainly proved that Malaysian sportsmen and women can be world beaters and do it on a consistent basis.

But Nicol’s victory was certainly not handed on a sliver platter to her. She had to work very hard with total focus and determination to achieve what she did.

She keeps her feet firm on the ground and always says that there is more for her to learn and this modesty is what makes champions.

We had sprinter Nazmizan Muhamamd win the Vietnam Sea Games gold and that was the last we have heard of him. He claims to be injured and still trains with the support of NSC, but one wonders why.

He is more comfortable writing columns trying to motivate others from his probably flash-in-the-pan victory. How else can one conclude when one victory was enough to satisfy this athlete who has already been said that he wants to hang his spikes and settle down.

It takes a lion-heart to have achieved what Nicol has done because she was always against the odds against the much better physically built and exposed players in the squash circuit.

But Nicol took the bold decision to pull her self from the comfort of home and base herself in Holland and work very hard to overcome the odds.

She uses her asset in being lighting quick on feet as compared to the more physically better built players.

The support of the Squash Racquet Association of Malaysia, the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the National Sports Council, has certainly been a great heap for Nicol.

But at the end of the day, it is Nicol who is on the courts against her opponents and the last call to be a champion or not is her decision. And time again, she has proved that she is hungry enough to want more.

Nicol dominated the junior scene with two world titles in 1999 and 2001 and now she has stamped her mark at the senior level and at 23, there is certainly more to come.

Nicol will not compete in Doha to give Malaysia one of their gold medal. She will certainly start as a favourite and there is tremendous pressure on her. But rest assured that Nicol will not forgo the gold for not want of trying.

Nicol’s victory in Belfast should certainly serve as a morale booster for the Asian Games contingent who begin their challenge to return with at least nine gold medals.

Besides Nicol, the physically challenged athletes’ performance in the 9th Fespic Games which ends today in Kuala Lumpur, should also serve as a motivation factor for the athletes in Doha.

For the Fespic Games, they had a modest target of ten gold medals but they have surpassed it target more that double with their haul of …….(pls insert final gold medal won by Malaysia).

For those who took the opportunity to witness these physically challenged athletes complete, words will not explain what they had experienced.

For those who had missed the action, it is sad because they had missed a rare opportunity can change the lives of many after watching these athletes are capable of despite their setbacks. The spirit, morale, determination is something even the normal athletes fail to show.

The difference between the physically challenged athletes and the normal athletes is that the former appreciate any form assistance given to them and want to repay the confidence placed on them with top performances, while the latter take for granted what is offered to them and feel that everyone else owes to them to support them.

Maybe, we will get an Olympic gold medal from a physically challenged athlete! Surely not something to dismiss it.

But for now, all eyes will be on the Games of the Life.

It is time for the show to begin and the athletes to perform.

A great deal of the future funding for athletes in the coming years will depend a great deal on their performance here because a great deal of money has been spent for the preparation.

It is time to reap the rewards and it is time for the athletes to stand up and be counted.

Do not give excuses that they have a flu, have peaked too early, have aches and pains or the weather is too cool for their comfort here in Doha.

It is time for the athletes to prove that they are made of sterner stuff than mash mellows!

Overcoming Challenges, Inspiring Others (2006 - Malaysian Today0

Overcoming Challenges, Inspiring Others

THE run-up to the Doha Asian Games starting on Dec 1 is certainly going to overshadow the start of the KL’06 9th Fespic Games starting today right in the heart of the city today.

Yes, the week-long Games is being hosted by Malaysia and despite the huge publicity given to the Games in terms of advertisement in the newspapers, radio, television and banners, there is worry among the organisers that this event which will see 47 of the 63 member countries competing, get a lukewarm response from the public.

To the public, maybe the fact that the Fespic Games is competed by the physically challenged athletes, it probably is less appealing.

In fact, it should be even more response to make a bee hive to the Stadiums to watch these athletes compete in the true spirit of sports and determination that might even put to shame some of the elite athletes in the country.

Believe me, being there at the Stadiums to see these physically challenged athletes, will change ones outlook of life.

Many of us, take life for granted just because we see, hear, talk and walk normally. So much so that many, hardly appreciate the goodness we are blessed in our lives no matter in how small or little way.

There will not only be 288 Malaysian athletes – 226 men and 62 women athletes, but a total of an estimated 5,000 athletes competing for a total of 553 gold medals in 19 disciplines.

It will indeed be a life time opportunity to see what these physically challenged athletes are capable.

I had a rare opportunity to cover the 20th Deaflympic Games in Melbourne in January 2005 in my sports journalism career spanning 27 years, and I dare say that it was one championship which touched me in many ways and made me appreciate live better and especially the physically challenged athletes.

There were moments when I was close to shedding tears when I saw the grit and determination shown by these deaf athletes who competed as if there was no tomorrow and their life depended on the outcome.

Some of colleagues and friends when from the Malay Mail then, laughed and teased me when they learnt that I was going to cover the Deaflympics. But I have this to say to them : “I am having the last laugh because they had missed a life time opportunity to experience something so beautiful which would touch anyone’s life and make them look at life in a different way.”

I did not cover the Melbourne Commonwealth Games a few months later, but even having covered the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the experience I cherished at the Deaflympics far more surpass my experience at the Olympics.

In all my years of covering sports events, never have I seen so much passion shown by athletes in representing their nation and competing for glory.

I expect even more touching moments at the Fespic Games, and it will be an opportunity no Malaysian should miss it.

The Malaysian contingent have boldly predicted that they will be gunning for ten gold medals and these athletes certainly deserve all the moral support to not only achieve but even surpass their target.

The physically challenged are not less than a normal human being because they are more than capable of doing anything any ordinary human being can and in fact more.

Take for instance the Chef-De-Mission of the Malaysian contingent for the Fespic Games – Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Mohd Salleh is an academician and economist.

As he himself aptly put it: Disability is not a hindrance to excellence. We need the will and I believe the team can do it. I hope the people will treat us equally as the able-bodies athletes.”

Ismail who is blind, is proof that disability is not an hindrance to achieving high standards in sports and business.

Ismail is the president of the Malaysian Association for Blind and CEO of the Twintech Holdings Sdn. Bhd.

School children especially should take advantage of the schools holidays to be at every venue possible for the whole of this week to experience for themselves the courage of these physically challenged athletes.

Infact, if some of the Doha Asian Games bound athletes can witness some of the events before they leave for Doha, it would certainly do a great deal for the spirit and morale.

As the logo for the Fespic Games says – Overcoming Challenges, Inspiring Others – these athletes are usually going to make a difference in everyone’s life who take the opportunity to watch them in action.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, himself will officially be declaring the Games open tomorrow (Saturday) at the Kuala Lumpur Stadium at Bandar Tun Razak at 4pm, that alone should underline the importance the government is paying to this Games.

This will be life time opportunity to many Malaysians and it is one they can not afford to miss.

It's the gold that counts (August 2004 - Malaysian Today)

It's the gold that counts


WITH 97 days left for the Doha Asian Games today (Friday), there is mounting pressure for the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and National Sports Council (NSC) to announce their gold medal targets.

And with the OCM all see to meet next week and announce the qualifiers for the Games, there is going to be additional pressure to come up with targets.

While it is good to set targets, but to come up with number of gold medals three month before the Games could well not only be putting undue pressure on the athletes, but even more importantly, revealing ourselves to competing countries.

Besides, anything can happen within these three months before the Games, and if there is a reason to change the target, it could well draw media criticism.

But that does not mean that there is no monitoring of the progress of the Doha bound-athletes.

In fact, the Doha 2006 programme unit headed by Damien Kelly is constantly monitoring not only the progress of our athletes, but also the progress of opponents.

At the weekly Doha Games management committee headed by NSC;s deputy-director-general, Datuk Zolkples, Damien gives an update of the targeted medals. There have been cases when it varies from time to because of latest developments with either the Malaysian athletes or opponents.

At this meeting also, the National Sports Institute, comes up with detailed reports on all athletes on work done with physiology, conditioning, nutrition, biomechanics, psychology, medical, the findings and observations in each field and the recommendations.

This information is used by coaches to get the athletes in better condition periodically.

But one thing is sure at this point of time, where Malaysia hopes to better it’s last Asian Games outing in Busan four years ago when they won six gold, eight silver and 16 bronze.

Malaysia’s best ever gold medal haul in the Games was at the 1966 Bangkok Asian Games where seven gold medal were won together with five bronze and six bronze.

In terms of total medal haul (all colours), Malaysia hauled 30 at Busan and that is the highest – one more than the one Games before that in Bangkok where the total haul was 29.

But nobody remembers the silver or bronze medalist, despite it meaning being Asia’s number two or three.

Malaysia’s worst outing in the Games since Malaysia started participating at the 1954 Manila Asian Games, was when they returned only with one silver and four bronze.

It is the gold medals that matters to all and will be the measurement for success or failure of the Doha programme.

Thus, the actual target for Doha has to be very carefully decided and announced because it is going to be used as the yardstick for success or failure.

Hence, is fair at this stage, instead of coming up with specific targets and identifying the sports or athletes, to say that they are going to better the Busan six gold medal haul.

But followers of sports in Malaysia, can readily predict the gold medal winners in Doha.

It would be appropriate probably to come up with the exact expected medal haul probably a fortnight before the Games and this will be a more accurate prediction.

Current unofficial predictions have been hovering between eight and ten gold medals.

Predictions can be made, but there is no guarantee in sports.

The best of preparations can go haywire at the eleventh hour. Sometimes in subjective sports, judging can be an issue. The element of luck to comes into play.

But at the end of the day, with the Government allocating huge sum of money for sports, there has to be accountability and results are the best justifications.

However, it is a collective effort with everyone – athletes, coaches, officials and support staff - working in unison and precision for the final product.

Maybe, it is time the media from all the experience over the years, come up with their medal prediction and check it against final results after the Games.

But one prediction which is going come out soon will be from the sports associations, but this will mostly like be an exaggerated one, because most of them will their sports to look good and justify their inclusion for the Games.

Whatever happens, the last call is with the athletes and hopefully they will return from Doha with reasons to be proud and see Malaysian sports continue to get the kind of support the Government has been extending to them.

NSAs walking on thin ice (2006 - Malaysian Today)

NSAs walking on thin ice

NATIONAL Sports Associations (NSAs), especially those in the Eight Core Sports, are walking on thin ice.

The Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council (NSC), have had enough of funding NSAs, but not seeing the desired returns in terms of achievements.

NSC is even more concerned because they are literally funding NSAs from A to Z.

Even development work is done by NSC for NSAs.

The last straw to break the camel’s back was when the national badminton team returned from the World Championship in Madrid last week, with just a bronze medal to show from the mixed doubles of Koo Kien Keat and Wong Pei Tty.

While there is reason to believe that the shuttlers were saving their best for the Doha Asian Games in December, NSC;s question is simple – why them go with a full squad and spend almost a million ringgit.

This is the second debacle by a NSA this year, with the hockey team having failed in the World Cup qualifiers earlier.

And NSC is not amused because they have been providing everything the NSAs require, but only to see no results worth mentioning.

Without doubt, the Doha Asian Games, is the last chance for NSAs to put things right and deliver.

Failing which, the NSAs can expect drastic cuts in support and even the possibility of being left out of the Eight Core Sports.

The Government has been very generous in providing support to NSAs both in kind and cash and support over the last few years have been like never seen before in Malaysian sports.

NSC have come to terms that many NSAs have been taking their support for granted, while athletes have been getting into the comfort zone.

And they certainly intend to put as stop to that and it is about time they did, because NSAs have become over-dependent on the NSC.

NSAs are no longer self-reliant and looking for sponsorships to manage their affairs has become a foreign language.

It is no secret that NSAs in Malaysia are a lucky lot, because no where else in the world do NSAs receive the kind of support that is available in Malaysia.

Yes, foreign nations too support their sports, but it is minimal and if the amount is big, then they are supporting winners not losers.

NSC’s outburst after the badminton’s dismal performance at Madrid, had better serve as a final warning to NSAs because the Government is dead-serious about cutting down the support, if no results are fort coming.

Of course, success does not come overnight, but at least there must be some signs that a particular sports in moving in the right direction.

All that most sports have been signaling, is the downward trend.

Just look at athletics, which was the pride of the nation not too long among many other sports including soccer.

It was pathetic to witness at their recent national championships in Penang that foreign teams like Thailand and Myanmar sent more athletes than some States.

And the fact that some events did not even have enough athletes, was surely a sign that something was wrong in the sports and that development has been neglected starring at us.

Instead of trying to restore some pride in the historical sport, there is in-fighting in the association, getting rid of people who are interested in doing genuine work and almost everyone working against each other and harmony is an alien word to them.

Sport in the country is indeed in a sad state of affairs, when it should be at its best with the kind of support they get from the Government these days.

To make matters worse, there are NSAs who do not even have their house in order.

How are they going to look into the welfare of their athletes, when they own house is in a mess.

Sometimes, officials forget that they exist because of the athletes.

Of course some officials, will want to argue that without them, the athletes do not exist.

But one look at most NSAs clearly show that it is the officials who are messing up things in their associations.

To top it all, we have unscrupulous officials who misuse the funds of their NSAs.

Maybe, the time has come for all senior officials who have over-stayed their welcome in their respective NSAs to make way for young and professional blood to manage NSAs like it should be in this modern age of sports – like a business.

At least then, we will have proper accountability, transparency and creditability in NSAs.

And the sooner it happens, the better it is for the future of Malaysian sports.

Indications are that some drastic measures are expected to be taken after the Doha Asian Games as a measure of house cleaning in many NSAs.