BAT chief accepts players' demands
- Published: 11/02/2010 at 12:00 AM
The Badminton Association of Thailand (BAT) has agreed to heed demands by the protesting national players and coaches.
Boonsak Ponsana, right, and Sompol Kukasemkit tell the Senate committee on sports about their conflict with the badminton chiefs on Monday. THITI WANNAMONTHA
But the conflict seems far from over as a representative of the players and coaches claimed the BAT's move was "insincere."
Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) governor Kanokphand Chulakasem yesterday held a talk with BAT president Charoen Wattanasin to find a way to solve the problem.
Charouck Arirachakaran, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand (NOCT), was present as a witness.
The closed-door meeting was called after 12 players, led by Boonsak Ponsana, and four coaches, led by Sompol Kukasemkit and Udom Luangphetcharaporn, announced last week that they were quitting the national team to protest the BAT's mismanagement.
They said they could not accept the BAT's attempt to sign a "team contract" with a sporting goods manufacturer and demanded certain BAT executives including Charoen resign.
After yesterday's meeting, Kanokphand announced that the problem was over as Charoen accepted some of the players and coaches' conditions.
Charoen agreed that the players can train at any venue other than BAT's courts, that they are still eligible to represent the country, that the BAT will endorse them to play in tournaments and that the controversial team contract is put on hold.
Charoen said he had done his best to end the conflict. "It's about different views. I have tried to stay as calm as I can," he said.
He said he welcomed the players and coaches to return to the national side for the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup preliminary rounds in Nakhon Ratchasima next week.
But Udom said Charoen's move would not eradicate the root of the problem.
"It is not yet over. They just want the leading players to play in the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. They ignored the cause of the problem," said Udom, who coaches Boonsak.
He said all the players were not fit physically and mentally for the tournament.
"We have not trained since Jan 24 and Boonsak is nursing an injury," he said. "We will look into the details and make a decision about our next move."
Boonsak is suffering from a swollen ankle now after spraining his ankle during a football match last week. Doubt he will start training anytime soon. From what I was being told, the players will most likely not participate for TC and UC.