MA TURNS TO EX-NATIONAL STARS TO LEAD ATHLETICS REVAMP

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) — More than half of the 16 local coaches agreed to be appointed by Malaysian Athletics (MA) are former national athletes, according to its Secretary-General Nurhayati Karim.

Nurhayati said the decision is part of a restructuring of the national coaching line-up aimed at streamlining the training system and strengthening athletes’ preparations for upcoming major championships.

“For our coaching line-up, we have reached a mutual agreement to appoint 16 local coaches. There are new faces and some whose contracts have been renewed. We see that many former athletes are among those offered positions under the programme. More than half are former athletes.

“We planned for 20 coaches but received approval for only 19, with three of them being foreign coaching slots,” she said after a working committee meeting at the National Sports Council (NSC) in Bukit Jalil here today.

At the same time, the three foreign coaches are intended to strengthen the throwing events, middle- and long-distance running as well as sprinting, which have been identified as key disciplines to be enhanced.

“We are targeting from India, from Germany and from South Africa and Botswana. So we have not finalised the candidates yet,” she said.

As part of the restructuring, MA will have a head coach for each main discipline, namely sprints, jumps, throws as well as middle- and long-distance running, to reinforce the training system and ensure more structured athlete preparations.

She said appointment letters will be prepared and distributed soon, with administrative and documentation matters currently being finalised before being sent to the candidates concerned.

The full line-up is expected to be announced next week.

Nurhayati said MA does not plan to appoint a technical director at this stage as the focus is on strengthening the existing coaching structure and implementing training programmes in a more structured manner.

She added that the association is targeting for the programme to begin on March 1, with national athletes expected to compete in about 20 championships.

— BERNAMA