Nadzmi: Local players too `manja'

10/01/2003

THE BA of Malaysia have chewed on it, but have found the prospect of
turning Malaysian shuttlers into fulltime professionals quite unpalatable,
because it might be too "taxing".
BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh said yesterday that they are at a
crossroad because by turning loose a select group of shuttlers to source
for, and play under their own sponsor's banner, could deprive BAM of
development funds for the juniors.
"We have discussed the issue but came up against a wall. It is true that
Malaysian shuttlers can't be called professionals as they still depend
heavily on the parent body to house, feed and clothe them.
"Unlike us, European players have their own sponsors for international
tournaments and only play under their respective BAs in team tournaments
like the Thomas Cup and Commonwealth Games.
"The Malaysian shuttlers, to a certain degree, are a spoilt lot, but we
can't change the present system because the juniors will suffer," said
Nadzmi.
Not to mention that if players turn professional, the taxman gets a
share of their winnings too. The money for playing badminton is very
lucrative, if one breaks into the top-32 in the world ranking.
For the senior players, BAM pays each player a monthly salary of RM1,300
to attend training while for the back-up shuttlers, the monthly salary is
RM800.
Some of the national shuttlers are also employed elsewhere, like Wong
Choon Hann, who is with Maybank and Ismail Saman, who is with the Police,
and thus receive salaries from two sources.
Ong Ewe Hock, presently embroiled in a bitter dispute with BAM, is not
employed but he was receiving a handsome sum for being World No 2.
Under the BAM incentive scheme, a player who gets to be the World No 1
or No 2, the payout is RM15,000 a month. BAM hands over the money on a
quarterly basis, which means a cool RM45,000 every three months for the
high ranking.
The incentive for being ranked No 3 or No 4 is RM12,000 a month. BAM
also pays incentives to players who break into the top-32 in the world.
Players receive between US$8,000 and US$12,000 for winning a four-star
or five-star tournament and BAM lets them keep it all, and tops up another
RM10,000 for the title. And then, there is also a President's bonus of 25
per cent of the title money.
Players in Europe are not only taxed on their winnings but also pay
their associations to train.
Nadzmi fears that sponsors, who are hard to come by these days, might
find it more lucrative to back an individual who has reached world level,
and sever ties with BAM because developing juniors does not bring instant
results.
"Even the sponsors are not ready to put all their money on a single
player because if he fails, then their product will look bad. But if they
decide, in the near future, to start on individuals, then junior
development will suffer."
Nadzmi does not forsee a change, even in the next five to 10 years, in
the system which has made the players `manja'(pampared).
"The system has made them too `manja'. Now they feel that it is their
right to receive training allowances, food and accommodation once they
become national players.
"They fail to see it as goodwill extended to them by BAM and not their
right," said Nadzmi.
That is why, Nadzmi feels players need to abide by the rules set by
their employers, until such time that they have their own sponsors, and no
longer have reason to pick on small issues like food and accommodation.
"Now they are very vocal about the treatment they receive from BAM. Some
even complain about food and accommodation, but can they do the same if
they rely on fulltime sponsors?
"They will think twice before making any statements because the sponsors
will pull out if it is negative," said Nadzmi.
Ong found out the hard way when he went against his employers.
He was issued a showcause letter on Dec 3 last year by BAM for
criticising the national association's decision to appoint a local as head
coach of the national team.
The player also lashed out at former secretary Zolkples Embong, accusing
him of having an ulterior motive for suggesting that Ong look at coaching
as an option.
BAM hauled him up for a Disciplinary Board hearing on Jan 2, but Ong
failed to show up and in his absence, the DB is believed to have
recommended the player be suspended for one year from all competitions.
(END)