Recalcitrant Lee Zii Jia just isn’t making a lot headway as an unbiased participant, however he’s definitely successful the large matches in opposition to the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), whom he taunts and teases at will, to get his desired outcomes.
Friday’s choice by the insecure nationwide physique to pay a compensation payment to the enigmatic skilled participant in order that the latter can pull on the Malaysian shirt for the Thomas Cup Finals later this month should absolutely go down in Malaysian badminton historical past as a most ludicrous name.
Let’s not even get into the patriotic ingredient, as Zii Jia in all probability has no comprehension of the essence of that phrase, not to mention have the opportunity to spell it. But we now have identified for a while already that his inclinations have at all times been to favour himself moderately than the nation.
And let’s not be taken in by that assertion from Team LZJ stating that he feels extra honour sporting a shirt that has Malaysia on its again than his personal title.
If that was the case, Team LZJ wouldn’t have had to sit throughout the desk with BAM negotiating phrases of engagement, and I wouldn’t have had to write this column. If nothing else, it was a very good try at mental posturing by the workforce.
Besides, Zii Jia, though not the one unbiased participant on this state of affairs, was the one one who has put his nation and financial positive aspects on weighing scales. Let the report present that it was cash that had tipped his scales.
True patriots like Viktor Axelson (Denmark), P V Sindhu (India), Tai Su-Ying (Chinese Taipei) and a number of other Indonesians, all of whom are contracted to sponsors totally different from their respective nationwide groups, nevertheless, didn’t enable that to come into battle with their patriotism in the direction of their respective nations.
If Zii Jia was conflicted by his private contract, then he ought to have labored that out together with his sponsors, Victor.
But now within the wake of Zii Jia’s act of defiance, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) could also be compelled to shed clearer mild on Clause 27.1 of their structure.
Clause 27.1 states that not at all could a participant be provided or paid cash or items to play matches aside from exhibition matches (as outlined in regulation 2.8) besides what’s paid to a participant as prize cash.
A clarification from BWF would appear to be so as.
But my primary grouse just isn’t as a lot with the recalcitrant participant than it’s with the inexperienced management of BAM, particularly with its president Norza Zakaria, whom I’ve had the advantage of understanding in a private capability.
The Norza that I’m acquainted with is shrewd, calculative, discerning, and given his chartered accountancy and profitable enterprise background, would have performed hardball on the negotiating desk, and swiftly dismissed Zii Jia as a legal responsibility unworthy of any type of compensation.
Unverified stories from knowledgeable sources declare that the preliminary demand for compensation from Team LZJ was RM50,000 per match, which might be a minimal of RM150,000 for three matches within the group stage. But it was negotiated down to RM20,000 per match as a substitute.
Still, nobody in his or her proper thoughts will even pay him RM100 to put on the Malaysian colors, just because with or with out Zii Jia, Malaysia is not going to get very far on this Thomas Cup with this dysfunctional workforce.
So, it should appear evident then that Norza and his negotiating workforce should have believed after they made that outlandish choice that this enigmatic and relative failure might play a pivotal function in Malaysia’s success in Chengdu, China.
I didn’t assume, not even for a second, that Norza would give in to a participant who would negotiate a price for patriotism. The Norza I’m acquainted with, would have sworn at him together with his internal voice however politely and gladly confirmed Team LZJ, the closest exit.
Someone with sturdy badminton DNA ought to have suggested each Norza, and his administration director, Michelle Chai – neither of whom have badminton DNA – to look past Zii Jia and title their finest junior singles participant for nationwide obligation as a substitute.
And it’s not that it hasn’t been accomplished earlier than. In 1975, the Mohamed Khir Johari-led BAM rested the whole 1970 squad that comprised Tan Aik Huang, Punch Gunalan, Abdul Rahman, Tan Yee Khan- Ng Boon Bee and Tan Aik Mong.
And in got here, debutants for the 1976 Thomas Cup finals in Bangkok, Saw Swee Leong, James Selvaraj, Phua Ah Hua, Moo Foot Lian, and Dominic Soong-Cheah Hong Chong. They had nothing below their belts however hearth and metal of their younger bellies, and a yen to search glory for Malaysia.
For them, it was sufficient. No one anticipated them to get previous the preliminary phases. But they made it to the semi-finals, dealing with Denmark and the legendary Svend Pri, Fleming Delfs and Elo Hansen. The kind books had Denmark and Indonesia within the remaining. But these younger Malaysian bucks tore the shape books, beating the formidable Danes 5-4 for a showdown with Indonesia.
The Indonesians led by the enduring Rudy Hartono, Liem Siew King, Tjun Tjun-Johan Wahudi, and Christian Hadinata-Ade Chandra, have been simply too overwhelming for the awestruck Malaysian juniors. But the mission was completed. The Malaysians left with nothing to Bangkok, however returned with the runners-up medal and Denmark’s well-known scalp.
BAM might study from its personal proud historical past the knowledge of trusting in our younger.
But with spilt milk presumably being unsavoury and positively not price shedding tears over, BAM might want to begin taking pre-emptive steps as a substitute to stop a recurrence, and an identical embarrassing state of affairs the place the nationwide physique is browbeaten by mercenaries.
I’m simply astounded by Michelle’s failure to have seen this coming and brought preventive measures, given her lengthy and intimate relationship with soccer that has spanned via Malaysia, the Middle East, and the Asian Football Confederation.
Football doesn’t have this downside just because FIFA has ironed out these contractual nuances and nuisances too, with clear laws on gear manufacturers and shirt sponsorships that don’t put gamers in battle with their respective nationwide associations.
Which is why you wouldn’t hear of Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi having points over this with Portugal and Argentina, respectively.
Michelle and BAM might take a leaf out of soccer and put a deal with on this conflict of manufacturers, as a result of there was a precedent, failing which the nationwide physique can count on to be again on the negotiation desk, and looking out embarrassed.
The very last thing all of us need to see is for our beloved nation to be an possibility for mercenaries, and never a compulsory honour, when Malaysia wants them.
The views expressed are these of the author and don’t essentially replicate these of eNM.
