KUALA LUMPUR — The debate over whether former athletes are suitable to lead national sports associations (NSAs) has reignited, with a senior NSA official pointing to the recent exodus of local coaches as evidence against the idea.
The official, who wishes to remain anonymous, argued that losing local coaches only reaffirms the claims that they are not necessarily the right fit to head or lead associations.
According to the official, athletes, by nature, are conditioned to prioritise personal success, a mindset ill-suited for the collaborative demands of administration.
“At the end of the day, athletes are self-centred and will only think for themselves. That’s why they succeed on the field,” he said.
Drawing parallels to coaching, the official noted that ego, often a strength in competition, becomes a barrier in leadership.
“Ego needs to be put way behind in administration and management. Most, I don’t think, can do that,” he added.
The departure of former national diving technical director, Bryan Nickson Lomas, for an overseas role adds to the growing list of local talents leaving Malaysia, further highlighting systemic flaws in retaining skilled personnel.
Just last week, it was reported that former national diver, Wendy Ng, left her coaching stint with the Federal Territories to join Singapore Aquatic as its new talent development coach. Prior to that, Malaysia has lost many top local badminton coaches to other countries.
This has led Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to push for better salary packages for local coaches.
However, critics of ex-athletes in leadership argue that sports governance demands more than athletic prowess, including strategic thinking, financial management, and the ability to prioritise the greater good over personal ambition.
Previously, Scoop had reported the lack of structured leadership training for athletes is a major shortcoming.
Proponents, however, believe ex-athletes’ firsthand experience offers unique insights into athletes’ needs, potentially bridging gaps between administrators and players.
As Malaysia continues to lose coaches to foreign opportunities, the trend serves as a cautionary tale for those advocating athlete-led leadership.
For now, the debate underscores the urgent need for structural reforms in Malaysian sports administration to address these recurring challenges. – January 30, 2025