Everyone knows that Singapore’s table tennis team manager has been told to leave the association.
While he has been an integral part of the team, i fail to see his sheer importance that maybe a new manager cannot be up to the task.
While he was obviously just trying to use the Olympic silver medal as an excuse of his contribution which does not equates to his termination of service with,
- But a clearly upset Mr Lee, 39, did not take kindly to the news.
‘I find it funny that after we achieved the greatest success in 48 years, I am no longer needed. It is baffling,’ he said, close to tears, yesterday.
You still have to give him credits.. for being the manager of table tennis(i would like to emphasis that he’s not even the manager/coach of the winning team).
We won’t forget his fatal error that plays a big part in having our country best male paddler and Sportsman of the Year 2008, Gao Ning, crash out due to a lack of support from a coach on the sideline.
- Gao, Singapore’s top men’s table tennis player ranked 12th in the world, had to play without a coach on courtside. He crashed 0-4 to unheralded Tan Ruiwu of Croatia in the first round.
His coach Zu Haining had to take care of another player, Yang Zi. Yang’s coach Chen Jian had fallen ill.
Ms Lee had questioned why the Singapore team, with four coaches in Beijing, could not spare one for Gao. She added that action should be taken against those who had ‘neglected their duties’.
This above case does not warrant an excuse. 5 coaches with at least 2 available( one was sick and at least 2 need to prepare the women games) ends up with 0 coach on the sideline. And the excuses he gave shows how lousy he is in planning and how short sighted is he. Can such a man lead the table tennis team? And so our ranked player crashed to an unranked one, leaving Gao Ning in tears.
Although i have been very much of a critic of this incident, i do question the association’s dismissal of the table tennis manager at such a untimely time. Supposedly, the team are in a celebratory mood, however, their President gave such a shocker. Bad timing.
I am also not for a sudden dismissal as these kind of issues should not be handled in a political and corporate kind of way. “I must quit because i did something wrong,” should not exist in sports associations and Team Singapore must not move towards such a notion. They should really sit down and discuss thoroughly what went wrong, correct it and create contingency plans for future competitions.
While i question his skills and actually think that he is replaceable, a sudden dismissal does not actually solve problems but create more problems.
[reference from Straits Times]
9 Comments
New president showing off her power. Whenever there is a new leadership, someone’s head will roll.
1 question, if the ranking is some much difference, the player should be able to handle the situation. if reliance on coach is so heavy, it will be a terrible issue. Gao Ning should base on his skill and knowledge to deal with the situation.
it is an excuse for him to get away with for losing to an unknown? just becoz the coach is not there, if the coach is there and he lost, what will be the reason?
For the team manager, he has given his share of the explanation and it is reasonable as the other 3 coaches are tied up at their matches and not able to move over. maybe the sick coach could actually get out of the sick bed to render his assistance.
For the president, i am very critical of her roti prata comments. long story, check my blog for my views
http://sagaden.blogspot.com/
saga, u don’t what you are talking about. The coach in this of matches are very important. They can call for timeout. change the rhythm of the game, can he player do that? I support her decision
Charles, then what do you reckon that the team manager should do when he is down with 3 coaches with 4 matches in play?
Besides I still feels that the STTA president’s decision is too rash and at a wrong timing. Furthermore, it will be common courtesy to speak to the individuals before making such announcement.
On top of it, this is her first foray into sports so I’m a bit concerned if she is capable to handle the job. Not to mention that this matter will in many ways affect the morale of the whole team. It’s going to take a while to boost up the morale and trust between the players and the new team of managers and coaches.
erm, loverpearl, there were 4 coaches available, with at least 2 required for the female games. While there are still 2 more coaches which do not necessary need to help out the female team when gao ning is struggling with his own match.( the female game was later than the male so it wasn’t in play yet, only yang zi game was in play and went overtime)
But still, i do agree on the harshness and sudden decision made, which is not a very good decision made.
I do think that justice have been given to Gao Ning. As the the team manager, he should be prepared and have backup another coach in case Yang Zi’s match end later.
If I remember correctly Roger Federer played some of his best tennis without a coach. In any case some sports eg tennis do not allow on or off-court coaching.
Perhaps Gao Ning has become too ‘Sporean’ i.e can’t function properly without direction from the top!
But seriously listen to Dr Tan Eng Liang - he has already said he is satisfied with the explanation and the matter should rest. Nobody is more qualified nor in a better position (with due respect to MPs) than Dr Tan to deal with this.
Gao Ning deserves to have a coach with him, no doubt about it…but did he blame the lack of one for his lose? Not really, it’s just media hype.
Anthony Lee has no excuse but the dismissal is done so cold-bloodly, it’s like in a corporate world, you know…timing stinks!
hmm, thanks for the comments. Appreciates the different viewpoints.
Jonathan, i believe it’s more of an issue regarding the management by the table tennis team than an issue regarding the capability of the paddler.
Anyway, i think the issue has taken a change, he MIGHT not be sacked after all.