MSNS chief: Our call on coaches, issue over-blown

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KUCHING: Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) director Dr Ong Kong Swee yesterday rebutted allegations that he was interfering with the internal affairs of the Table Tennis Association of Sarawak (TTAS), as reported in local dailies over the past two days.

Ong said he has no intention of doing so but instead he wanted to settle the coaching problem for the sake of the  players and development of table tennis in the state.

The misunderstanding between MSNS and TTAS arose two days ago when the council recalled Elite Centre coach Chai Kian Peng back to Kuching after he was coaching players in Miri for about three weeks.

This move infuriated TTAS who accused MSNS of not informing them on the matter and that the council was trying to meddle in its internal affairs.

“I want to stress here that MSNS does not want to interfere but instead always gives advice for the benefit of the athletes. MSNS is looking at the overall picture because there are players in other divisions who also need to be trained.

“To me, this issue should not be blown out of proportion because MSNS has the right on the coaches.

“Please remember that we pay the salaries of the coaches and the contract only involves MSNS and the coaches,” said Ong who is also chief executive officer of Sarawak Sports Corporation.

According to him, MSNS also has the right to call Chai back to Kuching because his main duty is to train athletes in all divisions and not only in one division.

Ong added that if TTAS need an additional coach, it could submit an application to MSNS.

“They can recommend any coach to MSNS but the decision to appoint them will be through the independent panel of sports experts.

“If they wish to have the contract of the coach concerned terminated, this also has to go through the independent panel,” he added.

Ong said if TTAS plan to get a foreign coach, he or she  must be ready to carry out the same duties like the local coaches and that is, to train athletes in all the divisions.

Prior to this, Ong said he has also met up with TTAS leaders a few times to help the association settle their problems.

On the accusation that MSNS is favouring the Kuching Division Table Tennis Association, Ong said he is just trying to act fairly with all parties and has no intention of siding with any particular party.

“I want to repeat here that MSNS only wants all parties to benefit and if there is any problem, we can sit down together to discuss the matter and settle it in the best way possible,” he stressed.

In this respect, Ong said he will be holding a press conference next Monday (June 8) to talk on the coaches issue and also to clear the air over the issue.