From http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/1/19/sports/20059981&sec=sports
Badminton: Rexy: I am leaving
By RAJES PAUL and LIM TEIK HUAT
INDONESIAN Rexy Mainaky has quit as the national doubles coach of the Malaysian team – barely seven months before the Beijing Olympic Games and four months before the Thomas Cup Finals.
His decision comes a day after his charges – Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock – crashed out in the second round of the ongoing Malaysian Open badminton championships at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
There were high expectations on defending champions Kien Keat-Boon Heong but a poor showing – especially by Boon Heong in the decider – saw them losing 19-21, 21-18, 21-19 to Denmark’s Jonas Rasmussen-Lars Paaske on Thursday.
An emotional Rexy poured his heart out in a telephone conversation yesterday morning, saying that the stress of managing the Malaysian doubles department had got to him.
“I can’t cope with the stress of the job any more. I have failed the Malaysian team and myself,” he said.
“I am quitting ... yes, I am quitting this job. I cannot do this anymore. It is very stressful. I cannot do this to my family anymore (putting them through the ordeal).
“No, it is not fair to my family. It is high time that I spend time with them.”
Rexy said he found sleep hard to come by after the defeats of his two prized charges – Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Fairuzizuan-Zakry – on Thursday.
“This thought (of quitting) played in my mind last night (Thursday).
“I could not sleep at all. And this morning (yesterday) it became clear to me that I wanted to quit this job (national doubles coach). I have informed my family,” Rexy said.
When told that he should not step down as he had done exceptionally well to raise the standard of the Malaysian doubles since taking up the job in 2004, Rexy said between sobs: “I have given my very best in coaching the Malaysian team ... I have done everything I could. Day in and day out I have worked hard with these players ... but I feel like I have failed them.
“I just do not know what else to do. Now, I just do not feel like coaching.”
Rexy said that he had hit ‘breaking point’ and could not wait until the Beijing Olympic Games to tender his resignation.
“I do not want to wait until the Beijing Olympic Games. This is it – I cannot coach anymore. I will inform the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) officials when I meet them today (yesterday),” he said.
“No, I am not changing my mind. This is my decision. It is final.”
This is the second time that Rexy has expressed his decision to quit as coach.
The first time was after the men’s team’s failure in the Doha Asian Games in 2006.
Then, the BAM and National Sports Council (NSC) officials managed to coax him into changing his mind.
And just days after that, Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the doubles gold medal –the country’s first gold in the Asiad in 36 years.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong then went on to win seven titles last year, including the prestigious All-England.
BAM general manager Kenny Goh, when asked about Rexy’s decision, replied after a long pause: “Well, officially, we have no knowledge of this.”
Badminton: Rexy: I am leaving
By RAJES PAUL and LIM TEIK HUAT
INDONESIAN Rexy Mainaky has quit as the national doubles coach of the Malaysian team – barely seven months before the Beijing Olympic Games and four months before the Thomas Cup Finals.
His decision comes a day after his charges – Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock – crashed out in the second round of the ongoing Malaysian Open badminton championships at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
There were high expectations on defending champions Kien Keat-Boon Heong but a poor showing – especially by Boon Heong in the decider – saw them losing 19-21, 21-18, 21-19 to Denmark’s Jonas Rasmussen-Lars Paaske on Thursday.
An emotional Rexy poured his heart out in a telephone conversation yesterday morning, saying that the stress of managing the Malaysian doubles department had got to him.
“I can’t cope with the stress of the job any more. I have failed the Malaysian team and myself,” he said.
“I am quitting ... yes, I am quitting this job. I cannot do this anymore. It is very stressful. I cannot do this to my family anymore (putting them through the ordeal).
“No, it is not fair to my family. It is high time that I spend time with them.”
Rexy said he found sleep hard to come by after the defeats of his two prized charges – Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Fairuzizuan-Zakry – on Thursday.
“This thought (of quitting) played in my mind last night (Thursday).
“I could not sleep at all. And this morning (yesterday) it became clear to me that I wanted to quit this job (national doubles coach). I have informed my family,” Rexy said.
When told that he should not step down as he had done exceptionally well to raise the standard of the Malaysian doubles since taking up the job in 2004, Rexy said between sobs: “I have given my very best in coaching the Malaysian team ... I have done everything I could. Day in and day out I have worked hard with these players ... but I feel like I have failed them.
“I just do not know what else to do. Now, I just do not feel like coaching.”
Rexy said that he had hit ‘breaking point’ and could not wait until the Beijing Olympic Games to tender his resignation.
“I do not want to wait until the Beijing Olympic Games. This is it – I cannot coach anymore. I will inform the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia) officials when I meet them today (yesterday),” he said.
“No, I am not changing my mind. This is my decision. It is final.”
This is the second time that Rexy has expressed his decision to quit as coach.
The first time was after the men’s team’s failure in the Doha Asian Games in 2006.
Then, the BAM and National Sports Council (NSC) officials managed to coax him into changing his mind.
And just days after that, Kien Keat-Boon Heong won the doubles gold medal –the country’s first gold in the Asiad in 36 years.
Kien Keat-Boon Heong then went on to win seven titles last year, including the prestigious All-England.
BAM general manager Kenny Goh, when asked about Rexy’s decision, replied after a long pause: “Well, officially, we have no knowledge of this.”