TTennis manager tio pok!! Woot!

[Apollo]

Aug 24, 2008

OUT

Singapore's table tennis team manager told to leave

Fate of head coach also hangs in the balance in shock move by STTA chief

By Peh Shing Huei

Beijing - Barely a week after helping Singapore win an Olympic silver medal, the country's table tennis team manager has been told he is no longer needed.

 

The head coach's fate also hangs in the balance, with a committee due to deliberate on his future.

 

Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) president Lee Bee Wah told The Sunday Times yesterday that the services of team manager Antony Lee are not needed anymore.

 

The shock move, which some view as not only too rash but also harsh, is sure to put a dampener on the team's scheduled celebrations when they arrive back in Singapore tomorrow. Mr Lee will return to the Singapore Sports Council, where he was seconded from.

 

Ms Lee, who took over as STTA president last month, her first foray into sports, said: 'I have a new team and will have a new CEO and technical director. It is best that the manager is chosen by them. Antony is welcome to apply for the position when we ask for applications.'

 

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.

 

The silver - won by the women's team of Li Jiawei, Wang Yuegu and Feng Tianwei - was Singapore's first since 1960.

 

'I'm surprised she did not tell me directly. That would be the courteous thing to do. I have to hear this from third parties. After doing so much for Singapore, I deserve a little respect,' he said.

 

Ms Lee, an engineer who is also an MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC, had said last Thursday that Mr Lee and the team's head coach Liu Guodong should be responsible for the 'Gao Ning incident' at the Games.

 

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'.

 

But asked last night at a Team Singapore reception here if this was the reason for Mr Lee's departure, she said it was not and that she just wanted to 'let the matter rest'.

 

Mr Lee had explained that the two remaining coaches - head coach Liu and Mr Zhang Yong - had to remain in the Athletes' Village to help Li and Feng prepare for their quarter-final matches.

 

In his riposte to Ms Lee last night, Mr Lee said: 'She said we were responsible without even asking for our explanations.' As for the fate of Mr Liu, Ms Lee said it would be decided by an STTA 'coaching committee'.

 

China-born Liu, 34, who has been with the Singapore national team since 2006, told The Sunday Times: 'I hope Ms Lee can help the coaches to get Singapore another great result at the 2012 Olympics and not let all this that we have built go. Even if she wants to, I think Singaporeans won't agree.

 

'It is very hard to climb up. But it is very easy to fall. I want to defend our medal in London. I am 100 per cent confident that we can get a medal again.'

 

He said repeatedly that Singapore has achieved a breakthrough and should not change the team now.

 

'We have a great organisation, a great manager, great coaches and players. We have just won a silver medal. Why change now? We have not failed. The manager should not leave.'

 

Ms Lee had a private meeting with the seven players - four women and three men - yesterday afternoon, without inviting any officials.

 

Asked what was discussed, Ms Lee said she assured the players of full support going forward, and that some decisions to be taken would affect them.

 

When contacted, team captain Li declined to comment, saying only that any decisions made will be by the association and not the players.

 

But a source told The Sunday Times that Ms Lee informed the players that some officials would be removed.

 

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports Teo Ser Luck said that there is a chance Mr Lee can still stay in STTA.

 

'If he wants to stay, he can discuss with the new management council of STTA. I am sure they will be willing to discuss,' he said last night.

 

Project 0812 chairman Ng Ser Miang said he was 'shocked at the timing as well as the manner in which this decision had been made'. Project 0812 is the elite athlete programme started in 2006 to help Singapore win medals at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.

 

He said that Mr Lee had been an integral part of the team's success, playing a crucial role in helping to maintain team dynamics.

 

He said: 'We've been receiving congratulatory messages from all quarters. This is a medal which has brought many Singaporeans together, cheering for one cause.

 

'Now is the time to be celebrating the accomplishments of the team, from the players, the coaches, to those who have played quiet roles in the background.

 

'I'm quite puzzled as to how a decision like that can be made by the STTA president, who has been in office for just over a month.'

 

[email protected] as predicted!

Edited August 24, 2008 by Apollo

[Pentium]

Never win gold, must be sack !!

[Zerstorer]

This appears to be a rash knee jerk reaction. How can a decision be made without consultation with all team officials? If it was just based on the the opinions of the players then it would likely be biased.

 

IMO, the Gao Ning issue is vastly overblown. So what if there wasn't a coach at his match? I think the crux of the issue is the player and not the absence of a coach. A player is supposed to perform his duty regardless of the situation. That's especially the case since the association has spent the last few years grooming him in preparation for this event. For him to throw all 4 games in merely 24mins against an unknown player is utterly disgraceful and shows a lack of mettle, temperament and sense of responsibility.

 

Action should have been taken against the player and not the team manager.

[Apollo]

aiya... this one obviously politiks lor. i doubt is her final decision since she is just there as a political overseer just like wat communist china does in putting a cadre member in each institute.

 

http://www.parliament.gov.sg/AboutUs/Org-MP-CV-LeeBeeWah.htm

 

nope. her cv dun even show she knows wat is bedminton fr bola sepak.

[Tazster_t]

not exactly true... she play golf... the golf ball and ping pong ball abt the same size.. so boleh for the job.. ;oP

 

I feel pity for the job.. wonder what will happen if the table tennis team came back empty handed.. maybe all have to go.. if he's good coach... i'm sure other country will grab his services..

[Zerstorer]

More of a political fiasco that doesn't make sense.

Are individual players more important than the officials who help administer and run the association?

 

Mollycoddling the players is not the way to produce results.

 

If Gao Ning lost the match, it wasn't just the team manager's fault. What of the absent coach and the player himself? Unless the coach was critically ill, there's no reason why he can't just SIT there.

 

And the player, he lost just because there wasn't a coach? More of like he threw a tantrum and refused to play, or he just simply wasn't good enough for an unranked player.

[Ozkaki]

may be someone should start online petition to remove this STTA president. i don't think she knows what she is doing, and may be just want to show who has the power. shame on her

[Apollo]

pls lah.. if up above lar one fone call to execute order 66, wat else u think she or anyone in the seat will do with the hatchet?

 

dun belittle this crybaby hor, he probably hurt chances of many abudding athetics who may wanna cross borders for $$.

 

becos of this crying beedeo being streamed worldwide, some may not b interested anymore.

[Apollo]

KNN... lidat say any man also can do a job Twice better then her except eason chen becos he only got 1 ball left.

[Vroomtattat]

The whole team should just take the reward and quit. WHAT'S THE POINT OF STAYING?

 

Ask the man to send in application after he was told to go?

[Vroomtattat]

MP for AMK GRC leh, dun pray pray hor knnh

[Fitvip]

I felt so shocked seeing her on TV blurting out to the media! Totally unethical!

 

Relationship already soured. How to go for gold in 2012?

Edited August 24, 2008 by Fitvip

[Apollo]

u must learn to take ur bitter medicine

[Newkid]

i am surprise also...even if there was a mistake, i felt that the top leadership is not forgiving. who want to be work for such an organisation....haiz....

[Vroomtattat]

"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'. "

 

Tsk tsk tsk . .

[Vroomtattat]

Buy all the top 3 players lor, got $$$ what.

[Yewhiong]

One did not peform his playing ability. One did not assign a coach to the player. Both at fault. Sack both.

[Ozkaki]

i don;t think she can make it to be a minister... in the first place, don't know why select her to be a MP. total failure in people management and PR.