Melaka Exco Downplays Issue Of Coach Slapping Under-14 Girls During Volleyball Match
According to the Melaka exco, the coach is very dedicated and "treats his players like his own children".
Melaka executive councillor V P Shanmugam appears to downplay the abuse issue involving a volleyball coach who was caught on camera slapping two under-14 girls during a match in Johor on 16 December
Shanmugam, who is the Melaka Youth Development, Sports, and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) committee chairperson, is of the view that the case is resolved as the coach has already apologised.
While the incident happened during the 2022 Malaysia Youth U14 Volleyball Championship in Johor late last month, it only came to light on Sunday, 1 January, after clips of the incident surfaced and went viral.
In the clips, the coach was seen slapping two Melaka players, both aged under 14, after the team was trailing against Johor. The two players had cost the team a point in the match before a timeout was called.
According to The Vibes, which first reported on the coach's assault, the two girls put on brave faces.
A collage of two screenshots from the clips showing the coach slapping the two players. The faces of the players along with the coach have been blurred to protect their privacy.
Image via Screenshot/SAYS
While Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has expressed disappointment over the actions of the coach, the Melaka exco thinks physical assault on players can be excused simply because the coach is very dedicated and "treats his players like his own children"
Harian Metro quoted Shanmugam as saying that previous records show this was the first time an incident like this has occurred since the coach — who is also a primary school teacher — began leading the players.
"He is a very dedicated coach and teacher who has coached the Under-14 team not just for a day or two, but since their primary school days and treats his players like his own children," Shanmugam said.
"The act of slapping should not have happened, but when entering the competition as a coach and a player's performance dropped, it may have made him angry (to slap them) but not to the point of injuring them. Furthermore, this is the first time the Melaka volleyball team had made it to the semi-finals," he added.
The Melaka exco's comments come after the Youth and Sports Minister urged Malaysians to put an end to normalising physical abuse as a method to ensure or promote obedience and compliance.
"We must learn from this, improve, and ensure that there is no repeat," she said, adding that her ministry together with the Ministry of Education will launch an independent investigation into the incident.
Shanmugam went on to say that the coach explained the situation to the technical management, who reprimanded him for his actions
"After the incident, he met with the two players and apologised. The incident was resolved on the spot on the same day," Shanmugam said, adding that no one made any police report.
He said this when asked to comment on the Malaysia Volleyball Association's (MAVA) decision to suspend the coach from involving in all national volleyball activities until investigations are completed.
According to him, although MAVA has decided on a temporary suspension, the coach is under the authority of the Melaka Volleyball Association, so the Melaka Sports Council will make a decision tomorrow, 4 January.
"I will call up the coach, the two players, representatives from the National Sports Council, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the management of the tournament. I will also invite representatives from the Melaka Volleyball Association and other parties if we should take similar action as the one taken by MAVA," he said.
"If we can find ways to resolve the issue amicably, no action will be taken against the coach."
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