KUALA LUMPUR – “There’s no point in having the skills when you don’t have the right attitude to win.”
National sepak takraw head coach, Ahmad Jais Baharun, has urged his players to refine their attitudes if they hope to clinch the upcoming ISTAF World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from May 19 to 26 at Titiwangsa Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.
Speaking to Scoop, Ahmad said the Sepak Takraw Association of Malaysia (PSM) has provided his charges with everything they need to win tournaments, and that it is now up to them to live up to the association’s expectations and secure the World Cup title in front of the home fans.
“The team is going to play in front of the home fans, and our players need to go all out and prove to the world what they are capable of.
“Our players are good, but they need to build a strong mindset and control their emotions if they hope to emerge triumphant against whichever team they will play in the tournament.
“The standards of the game have increased as many nations are trying to catch up with our strength, and we need to be very vigilant, especially with our gameplay.
“For my boys to compete and give their best, they need to sacrifice more of their time for training and take in all the coaches’ advises with an open heart without opposing, as we coaches always want them to improve, and we care a lot for them.
“There’s no point in having the skills when you don’t have the right attitude to win; hence, I’m hoping for my players to take all these considerations into account as the governing body has provided them with all they need, and now is the time for them to perform,” said Ahmad.
PSM has hired former Thai players Poonsak Permsap and Seksan Tubtong on one-year contracts to assist Ahmad in selecting the right players for the World Cup, which Malaysia is hosting for the second time since the 2011 edition.
Poonsak, a four-time gold medalist for Thailand at the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, as well as a gold medalist in the 2002 Busan Asian Games and the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games, will serve as the new technical consultant for the Malaysian national men’s team.
Meanwhile, Seksan, who excelled for his national team with a gold at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games and the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, will be the fitness and tactical trainer for the national men’s regu and doubles team.
Ahmad’s charges, comprising Haziq Hairul Nizam, Muhammad Hairul Hazizi, Farhan Adam, Noraizat Nordin, Azlan Alias, Amirul Zazwan Amir, Syahir Mohd Rosdi, Afifuddin Razali, Aidil Aiman Azwawi, and Hairul Hazizi Haidzir, secured a silver medal in the men’s team at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, falling 15-21, 19-21 against Thailand in straight sets.
In the 2018 edition in Jakarta and Palembang, Malaysia won the silver medal in the team regu.
This year’s ISTAF World Cup will feature a total of 16 teams and will introduce a ranking system for the competing nations. – February 6, 2024