eaglehelang
Regular Member
2008 starts with drama, promising a year of much action, excitement, sobbing, turning at corners, left, right, U-turn ..........he, he
From the Star
Rexy makes U-turn
INDONESIAN Rexy Mainaky has had a change of heart – a day after creating a stir with his decision to quit as the men’s doubles coach of the national team.
Yesterday, Rexy said that he is not leaving after all. And that is good news for Malaysian badminton.
On Friday, he announced that he was quitting following the dismal performance of his players on Thursday, especially the defeat of defending champions and world number one Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.
“I have had good advice. I spoke to (BAM) president (Datuk Nadzmi Mohd Salleh). I will continue as the national doubles coach,” Rexy said when met at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
“I was emotional. I cannot give up now. If I did, it will prove that I am not a professional. I have to face all this bravely. This is my responsibility as a coach.
“I apologise for making the statement (that I am quitting). I take it back.”
Rexy said that he got all worked up because the players had failed to meet his expectations.
“My expectations were high and the players failed to meet my lofty targets. I got very emotional over their defeats. And all I could think of at that time was quitting,” he said.
“From now on, I am only going to look forward. I want to move forward with the players, the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia), the NSC (National Sports Council) and the Malaysian people.”
Rexy was reminded that this was the second time that he had gone back on his decision to quit the team, having done so during the Asian Games in Busan in 2006.
“I know some people will laugh at me now that I am retracting my decision yet again. But I want to look ahead and work together to help Malaysia achieve the ultimate goal – to win a gold medal in the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Rexy.
“Yes, I am emotional. But what I really want is for the players to be as passionate as I am.”
Rexy said it was important for the team to stay united.
“The unity is better in the team now. If not we would not have won a lot of titles last year. But others can easily distract our players and this is something we have to be careful about. We must continue to stand together,” he said.
“The foreign players always say that it is easy to beat the Malaysian players when they are under pressure. And I agree that Malaysians like to heap unnecessary pressure on themselves.
“Tan (Boon Heong) says that whenever he gets up in the morning, he already feels the pressure. But this is something I must work on. It is important to give them a peace of mind.”
On the issue of four of his national players – Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Gan Teik Chai-Lin Woon Fui – leaving the team, Rexy said he would leave it to the BAM to handle it.
“These are good players who are leaving us. It will be a big loss. But it is best that the BAM look into this matter. It will not be right for me to get involved.”
For now, Rexy aims to meet his players and assistant coaches and have an open discussion with them on each other’s expectations.
“We have gotten off to a bad start (at the Malaysian Open) but let’s hope that this (tournament) will mark a turnaround in our fortunes.”
From the Star
Rexy makes U-turn
INDONESIAN Rexy Mainaky has had a change of heart – a day after creating a stir with his decision to quit as the men’s doubles coach of the national team.
Yesterday, Rexy said that he is not leaving after all. And that is good news for Malaysian badminton.
On Friday, he announced that he was quitting following the dismal performance of his players on Thursday, especially the defeat of defending champions and world number one Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong.
“I have had good advice. I spoke to (BAM) president (Datuk Nadzmi Mohd Salleh). I will continue as the national doubles coach,” Rexy said when met at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
“I was emotional. I cannot give up now. If I did, it will prove that I am not a professional. I have to face all this bravely. This is my responsibility as a coach.
“I apologise for making the statement (that I am quitting). I take it back.”
Rexy said that he got all worked up because the players had failed to meet his expectations.
“My expectations were high and the players failed to meet my lofty targets. I got very emotional over their defeats. And all I could think of at that time was quitting,” he said.
“From now on, I am only going to look forward. I want to move forward with the players, the BAM (Badminton Association of Malaysia), the NSC (National Sports Council) and the Malaysian people.”
Rexy was reminded that this was the second time that he had gone back on his decision to quit the team, having done so during the Asian Games in Busan in 2006.
“I know some people will laugh at me now that I am retracting my decision yet again. But I want to look ahead and work together to help Malaysia achieve the ultimate goal – to win a gold medal in the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Rexy.
“Yes, I am emotional. But what I really want is for the players to be as passionate as I am.”
Rexy said it was important for the team to stay united.
“The unity is better in the team now. If not we would not have won a lot of titles last year. But others can easily distract our players and this is something we have to be careful about. We must continue to stand together,” he said.
“The foreign players always say that it is easy to beat the Malaysian players when they are under pressure. And I agree that Malaysians like to heap unnecessary pressure on themselves.
“Tan (Boon Heong) says that whenever he gets up in the morning, he already feels the pressure. But this is something I must work on. It is important to give them a peace of mind.”
On the issue of four of his national players – Tan Bin Shen-Ong Soon Hock and Gan Teik Chai-Lin Woon Fui – leaving the team, Rexy said he would leave it to the BAM to handle it.
“These are good players who are leaving us. It will be a big loss. But it is best that the BAM look into this matter. It will not be right for me to get involved.”
For now, Rexy aims to meet his players and assistant coaches and have an open discussion with them on each other’s expectations.
“We have gotten off to a bad start (at the Malaysian Open) but let’s hope that this (tournament) will mark a turnaround in our fortunes.”
Full of drama: tension, tears, heartache, pressure, reverse tension 
, relief and then happiness. 
