KUALA LUMPUR – DAP’s Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman has slammed the actions of a coach of the Melaka U-14 girls’ volleyball team who drew wide condemnation after he slapped two of his players during a match.
In a statement posted on Facebook, the lawmaker said she viewed the matter seriously and called for an end to such practices.
“Things like this should never happen, and if it has become a culture in any sport, it needs to be stopped immediately.
“Violence does not guarantee that athletes will perform well and will even put more pressure on them, which will ultimately impact their mental health,” she said.
Young Syefura, who is better known as Rara, said this type of behaviour should not be allowed to become a norm in sports.
“Sport is a healthy field. Winning or losing is part of it. As a coach, he should accept any outcomes openly and use that as a guide to train the team and recognise their weaknesses.
“If a coach cannot control his emotions and be professional to the students, then he does not qualify to be a coach,” she said.
She also thanked Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh for showing concern and reaching out to Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek over the matter.
“I hope strict action is taken against this coach. He does not have the right to disrespect his players, let alone when the player is an underage teenage girl,” she added.
The Malaysia Volleyball Association recently issued a statement stating that the coach had been suspended from all future national volleyball activities. It is also setting up an investigative body to look into the matter.
Yesterday, The Vibes reported that two girls from the Melaka U-14 girls’ volleyball team were slapped by their coach during the 2022 Malaysia Youth U-14 Volleyball Championship in Johor.
In the third- and fourth-placing matches between Melaka and Johor, the Melaka coach struck the two players after they had conceded a point to the opposite team. – The Vibes, January 2, 2023
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