Athletics: MAAU's plan riddled with holes

Shahidan: MAAU has identified 15 centres to train 150 athletes

NOT wanting to be left further behind in the development stakes, the Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) presented yesterday its 10-year 'Sure Win' plan which only served to raise more questions than there were answers.

The only thing notable of the plan, which was tabled at the MAAU's first board meeting of the year in Kuala Lumpur which lasted three hours, was its lack of structure and details.

The plan is ostensibly to ensure a continuous stream of talent to replace retiring or non-performing athletes over the next decade with MAAU identifying 15 training centres across the country to place athletes for development.

But while MAAU president Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the centres will cater to 150 athletes, there was less clarity as to how the 'Sure Win' programme will achieve its aim.

"We have identified 15 centres for this specific purpose to train 150 athletes. This is part of our efforts to ensure we do not have to wait another 10 years to replace our top athletes," he said yesterday.
When pressed for more details, Shahidan veered off instead into a discussion of jogathons and fitness programmes, how to attract more sponsors and incentives for athletes breaking national records.

The plan makes no mention of targets, structured programmes for the athletes nor is there a timeline of when the any result can be expected.

Nor has the MAAU come up with a plan to qualify its athletes for the World Championships in Berlin in August with deputy president Karim Ibrahim saying they expect to receive two wild cards from the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF).

"No one has yet qualified on merit but there will be two wild cards from IAAF instead, one each for a male and a female athlete, which most likely will be taken up by Lee Hup Wei and Roslinda Samsu," said Karim.

On other matters, Shahidan said the Armed Forces Amateur Athletic Association will have to wait till the next meeting to know the outcome of its membership application.

Shahidan also lamented his failure to be reimbursed by the Olympic Council of Malaysia to the tune of RM60,000 for expenses incurred in sending athletes to last year's Korat Sea Games.

"I paid out of my own pocket, at the very least RM60,000, for athletes from athletics, swimming and petanque and after some of them won medals, I have yet to be reimbursed by OCM," said Shahidan.