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Badminton: Coach: New plan can save Koo-Tan Posted: 01 Nov 2011 04:56 PM PDT 2011/11/02 IT has been attempted before but doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang believes a revamped training programme will help Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong bounce back from their slump. According to Cheh Chang, the World No 5 pair need a slight change in their game to re-establish themselves among the world's top four pairs. "Kien Keat-Boon Heong are not thinking enough on court unlike the top pairs from China, South Korea and Europe," said Cheh Chang after an informal meeting between coaches and BA of Malaysia (BAM) officials in Bukit Kiara yesterday.
"Tan Kim Her (head coach) and I are working closely to find solutions. Anyway, I have started implementing changes to their game." Cheh Chang, however, said Kien Keat-Boon Heong are still Malaysia's best bet for gold at the London Olympic Games.
"We have to help them regain their form and confidence. "I am confident Kien Keat-Boon Heong will be medallists in London."
This came in the wake of their embarrassing first-round defeat to South Korea's No 3 Kwon Yi Goo-Cho Gun Woo in the recent Denmark Open. Kien Keat-Boon Heong made headlines in September when they said they wanted Cheh Chang as their new coach over Rexy Mainaky to revive their careers, which BAM agreed to. However, the pair's performances have instead dipped to an all-time low. Cheh Chang claimed Kien Keat-Boon Heong have been working extremely hard in training. "In fact, they are putting in extra hours. I believe they have lost confidence, so this is something they need to work on," he said. BAM confirmed that Korean Yoo Yong Sung, appointed on a six-month probation, will have a hand in coaching Kien Keat-Boon Heong for one session a day. "Yong Sung's no-nonsense attitude and training drills could help Kien Keat-Boong regain their form," said Cheh Chang. On whether Kien Keat-Boon Heong will compete again this year, Cheh Chang said it would depend on how well they responded to the new training system. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
Football: Irfan: Money was never a factor Posted: 01 Nov 2011 04:52 PM PDT 2011/11/02 Irfan admitted the morale in the camp was not all that high before last Saturday's Malaysia Cup final. Instead, it was the culmination of all the little things which led to his big decision, said the 60-year-old coach who parted company with Terengganu just two days after losing Saturday's Malaysia Cup final to Negri Sembilan. The Kelantan-born coach said most people thought it was the money that took him away from the East Coast club after just two years at the helm.
"Money was never a motivation for me and at my age, it will never be," said Irfan in Kota Baru yesterday. Reluctant to reveal the reason behind his decision to quit the team that won the FA Cup, finished second in the Super League and the Malaysia Cup, Irfan said certain things are better left unsaid.
"That was one of the hardest decisions I had to ever make as I love my players, I admire the fans and most of all, my family and I have a great life here." Irfan said he was truly sorry for the fans who had every right to expect Terengganu to bring the Malaysia Cup home.
"Perhaps things could have been different but that is water under the bridge now and there is no point in crying over spilt milk," said the coach who admitted the morale in the camp was not all that high before Saturday's big match. He said some of the players were not "themselves" on the night judging by their body language and facial expressions. "I hate pointing fingers at anybody but somebody has to take the blame for neglecting the needs of the players and the coaches for that matter, before the biggest match of their lives. "Among the players' grouses was that they were allocated only four tickets to the final and to them that was just unacceptable and I agreed," he said. Meanwhile, Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said the losing finalists will not receive any reward from the state government. "It is up to the Terengganu FA to decide on the form of incentives, if any, for the players who came close to winning the Malaysia Cup," he said. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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