KUALA LUMPUR — Several national sports association (NSA) officials have expressed both support and caution in response to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh’s call for more athletes to take on leadership roles.
While they welcomed the idea, they warned that success depends on the individual’s passion, administrative skills, and, most importantly, the willingness to serve and learn.
Speaking to Scoop on the condition of anonymity, the officials said that while some athletes possess the passion and interest in leadership, they are few in number.
They pointed out that most athletes are skilled in the technical aspects of their sport but may lack the necessary administrative expertise and a broader commitment to serve in leadership roles.
“Firstly, I welcome the minister’s suggestion. In fact, I believe it shouldn’t be limited to athletes and former athletes alone but should also include officials with extensive experience in sports,” one official said.
“However, not everyone is cut out for this. Yes, there are athletes who are passionate and interested in leadership, but they are only a small number.
“Most athletes are well-versed in the technical aspects of their sport, but many are self-focused and lack the administrative skills required to lead.”
Since taking to office, Hannah had emphasised her goal to empower former athletes to lead and to place the right people in the right roles within the sports ecosystem.
The official also highlighted that, unlike many might assume, leadership within sports associations is not a paid position.
The individual cited the examples of the late Datuk Punch Gunalan, a former national badminton player and Badminton Association of Malaysia administrator, and the late Datuk Dr. P. S. Nathan, former president of the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress, who both rose to prominence after years of dedication and learning.
“(The) two former athletes became exceptional leaders, (but) if you examine their journeys, they grew within the sport through years of hard work and learning to serve.
“Are today’s athletes willing to serve and learn? Leadership within an association is not a paying job.”
Another official offered advice to athletes interested in association work and leadership.
“They must start from scratch. By this, I mean going back to basics and working at the grassroots level. Many top athletes today are not even involved with their state associations, let alone grassroots initiatives.”
The official also stressed the importance of athletes equipping themselves with administrative knowledge through relevant courses to better understand the operations of running an association.
“Unless they bring development and, crucially, funding for programmes, it will be very challenging,” the official added.
Notably, these concerns carry weight. Retired local legends such as Datuk Lee Chong Wei (badminton), Datuk Nicol David (squash), and Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi (hockey) have all contributed to sports development in Malaysia, yet none hold positions in their respective associations.
On a global level, even world bodies like FIFA are not led by former athletes.
“Another issue is the public’s misconception that NSAs are fully funded by the government. In reality, we only receive about six to seven per cent of the main budget annually.
“This misunderstanding leads to the belief that anyone can step into a leadership role,” said the first official.
Ultimately, these officials, who have long been committed to the development and continuity of sports in Malaysia, advocate for a balanced approach when considering reforms.
They believe that while athletes can certainly contribute to the leadership of sports associations, the process requires careful consideration of both passion and practicality.
As of now, they do not see a clear path forward for widespread changes in the local sports ecosystem. — January 28, 2025