Player-slapping coach has ‘problematic’ past, netizens claim   

KUALA LUMPUR – The controversy surrounding a volleyball coach who slapped two underage players has left many fuming, including those who claim he has a “problematic” past.

Yesterday, The Vibes reported that a Melaka coach slapped two of his underage players during the 2022 U-14 Volleyball Championship in Johor.

The incident gained the attention of Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who condemned the coach’s action.

Despite this, Melaka Youth Development, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman V.P. Shanmugam said the coach in question had a clean record, as no complaints about him have been lodged before, adding that he is a very dedicated coach who is concerned about his players.

However, some netizens quickly pointed out that the coach’s record was not as clean as reported.

One user, @seorang_meran, said that his sister was a player for the Melaka state U-12 team and was under the coach in question.

My sis one of the player Melaka yang terlibat under 12 pnya. This fat coach *not body shaming* memang rude af. Time aku hantar my sis untuk game pun dia memang rude gila. Cakap tengking2 dekat budak depan parents. Hisap vape sembur sana sini.

— Dua Nama (@seorang_meran) January 1, 2023

“This coach is very rude. When I sent my sister for games, he (the coach) was very rude.

“He would shout and yell at the players in front of the parents.

“He also vaped openly,” he said on Twitter in response to Yeoh’s comments on the matter.

Another user @audenhuxley, said the teacher was very “problematic”.

Unprivate my acc for reply this. Cikgu adi/hadi nih mmg problematic gila, konon terpaling bawak nama vb melaka under MAVA lah BS jer semua. Ada kes ngan PPD kena hantar ke hujung melaka sbb kes psl pelajar. Please educate this cikgu urghh, thise yg kenal depan² tahulh perangainya

— amirhasifr (@audenhuxley) January 1, 2023

“He supposedly did well for Melaka’s volleyball under the Malaysia Volleyball Association (Mava). It is all nonsense.

“He has cases with the authorities and was sent to the further parts of Melaka because of issues with students.

“Please educate this teacher, those who know him know his character,” he said.

Another user, @KarlParkHyun, said Yeoh needs to speak to the players individually to figure out what is really going on behind closed doors.

Rasa kes ni YB kena tanya sorang2 player tu. Risau mereka takut dorang diam tak nak beritahu apa sebenarnya di sebalik yang berlaku. Kalau public pun boleh tampar2 macam tu. Jatuhkan air muka. Sentuhan mana lagi yang coach tu pernah buat atas kononnya mahu mengajar?

— Karl Park Hyun (@KarlParkHyun) January 1, 2023

“I am worried because they (the players) are scared and afraid to speak out and expose what is really going on.

“If you can slap them in public and humiliate them, what other physical actions has the coach done in the name of educating?”

Mava has since suspended the coach from further involvement in the sport and will set up an investigative body to examine the incident while contacting the parties involved.

Safe Sport Malaysia founding president Sarina Sundara Rajah also said that the lack of response from the players slapped shows that the coach’s behaviour has been ongoing for some time, and reflects a more disturbing reality in the sporting industry.

DAP’s Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman also voiced her concerns, stating that if the coach cannot be professional and control his emotions, then he is unfit to be a coach. – The Vibes, January 2, 2023