Malaysian athletes just plain pampered

The late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari (right) was one of Malaysia's athletes of the past who would have done everything they could to win for the country.

TWO weeks ago, StarSport carried a foreign story about a Mexican boys’ team who dominated a basketball tournament playing barefooted.

The Triqui boys’ basketball team became a media sensation in Mexico after winning a youth tournament in Argentina – winning all seven games, with most of them playing without sneakers.
They were singled out by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto as an inspiration for Mexico and an example for their struggling football team.

He was wrong.

The boys should be an inspiration to all Malaysian sportsmen and sportswomen.
Our athletes are a pampered lot. They have everything and yet deliver so little.

The Mexican boys displayed all the positive values one can only hope exist – even if it is just a tiny part – in our athletes.

They showed plenty of heart, hunger and humility – traits clearly missing from many of our athletes.
I believe that money – whether in the form of rewards or incentives – has blunted their passion and drive. Many athletes have been showered with gifts and cash the moment they achieve the slightest form of success.

It doesn’t matter if the victory was only at the regional level.
Many associations and companies have gone overboard when it comes to rewarding athletes. And many a time they have failed to see the damage they have caused and the monster they have created.
Who can forget the way the nation showered the badminton players with cash, land, cars and much more when they won the Thomas Cup in 1992.

Or how the states have lavished their footballers with gifts galore whenever they win the FA Cup, Malaysia Cup or the League title.
Yes, some of them do deserve what they get. For example, world No. 1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei and world No. 1 squash player Nicol David.

These two are prime examples of where hunger and heart can take you.
They also had the tenacity to overcome all the odds and the intelligence to change their game to suit their style.

They reinvented themselves so that they could reach the pinnacle of their sport.
How many of our current athletes can do that?
Many are just contented with the allowances and prize money they get. They are, in other words, just contented to be in their comfort zone.

These are athletes who have been given the very best in terms of training facilities, attire, food, travelling, accommodation, allowances, bonuses etc.
Their jerseys, boots/shoes and equipment are all sponsored.

And most times they travel in comfort for overseas stints and assignments and stay in comfortable hotels.

I bet the boys from Mexico would have loved to have half the kind of facilities our athletes enjoy.
Sometimes I wonder why it is that countries like Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam have improved by leaps and bounds in all sports.

In my humble opinion, it’s because they still have the hunger in them. They know that excelling in sport is one way for them to escape from poverty and to improve their families’ standard of living.
Thai badminton queen Ratchanok Intanon is one prime example.

And these athletes clearly take pride in representing their country as well.
Our athletes used to be like that. Back in those days, our athletes would run themselves to the ground, cover every blade of grass and spill blood (if necessary) to win for the country.

That was the time the likes of the late Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Ishtiaq Mubarak and Eddy Choong, Datuk Sri Shanmuganathan, Tan Sri Dr M. Jegathesan and many others reigned supreme.
And they didn’t only rule in the South-East Asian region. No, these athletes took on the world and gave the best a run for their money.

Now, all we have are Nicol, Chong Wei and a handful of cyclists, bowlers and divers.
Another attribute I find really annoying among the current athletes is their arrogance. Many act like prima donnas after winning one or two tournaments.

They enjoy being in the limelight and hogging the headlines in gossip magazines and tabloids.
They tend to take their opponents for granted. To me, that smacks of disrespect.
Athletes of yesteryear knew the importance of humility. They respected every one. They never once underestimated their opponents.

The current breed of athletes only want to see their names in the headlines on back pages of newspapers (or front pages if they can) for the right reasons.
Part of the blame for the downturn in Malaysian sports should be shared by the leaders of the various associations – there is just too much politicking in the national sports associations (NSAs).
Many leaders have overstayed, and are overstaying, their welcome.

Some have been holding on to power for decades!
Their sport has been sliding down the rankings and they still insist they can do the job. These people probably have their heads in a hole.

What Malaysian sport needs are people with new and fresh ideas. The NSAs need men and women who can provide dynamic leadership.

We have a young and dynamic Youth and Sports Minister in Khairy Jamaluddin.
It’s time the NSAs have such a leader, too.

It’s time for the NSAs to come to their senses and bring in the young movers and shakers.

Will it happen?

Nah, I doubt it!



by R. Manogaran - The Star