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KUALA LUMPUR – There should be no place for unwarranted violence in sports, especially between a coach and a player, let alone when the athletes are children.
During the 2022 Malaysia Youth U14 Volleyball Championship in Johor on December 16, the third- and fourth-placing match for the girls’ category saw Melaka take on Johor at SJK (C) Pei Hwa.
It would have been an ordinary match if not for an alarming incident that took place when Melaka were trailing Johor 16-11, where a coach from the Melaka team was seen slapping two of his players, both aged under 14.
At the 20min 20s mark of the match video that was live streamed on Facebook, the coach can be seen slapping two of his players who had cost the team a point in the match before a timeout was called.
The two girls can be seen putting on brave faces and persevering through the match, and were consoled by their teammates after the coach’s assault.
Johor would go on to win the match even though the Melaka team put up a good fight, forcing the match into a fifth and final set.
Regardless of a match’s outcome, a coach should not place their hands on players, especially when they are underage girls. – The Vibes, January 1, 2023