SCREWUP BY KAM

The Kabaddi Association of Malaysia (KAM), as predicted by the KAKL, is in the midst of creating a major screwup with the organisation of the kabaddi competition at the National Traditional Sports Carnival in Ipoh from 24-26 July, 2009.

The KAM after their non involvement in the inclusion of the kabaddi event at the carnival is now trying to change the rules of the competition for no concrete reasons.

Kabaddi was included in the carnival through the efforts of the KAKL and the KAKL officials went around the country conducting workshops on kabaddi.

The KAM which insisted that they would provide the technical officials for the finals in Ipoh are now attempting to convert the tournament from an open category to an Under-20 event.

The reason given was that they were unable to manage older players whom they have labelled as undisciplined and prone to injuries.

The attempt has already been given a clear rebuff by several state sports departments including the Jabatan Sukan Wilayah Persekutuan.

It is learnt that the Kabaddi Association of Negri Sembilan has even lodged in an official protest to their state sports department.

KAM's position in this matter is rather baffling as the tournament was organised by the Ministry of Sports to promote the sports among all communities and not designed to be an elite level competition. It was to assist in promote discipline and healthy living.

An official that the KAKL spoke to commented that if the KAM was unable to control older players than they might as well disband the association.

The move by KAM defies logic because most states have already conducted their state selection trials and selected the players based on the original rules. The KAM are now attempting to change horses midstream.

The FT sports department is learnt to have already indicated that they would not send any Under-20 teams to the tournament.

The KAKL has these questions to ask the KAM

1. Where were the KAM all these months when the KAKL worked to include the sport in the carnival?

2. When was the last open tournament conducted by the KAM to label older players indisciplined?

3. What is the true rational behind trying to change the rules of the event when they were only asked to help in officiating?

4. Is the rules being redefined because states that control the KAM like Perlis and Kedah does not have senior teams?

5. If the KAM has any intention of sending a strong team (not tourists) to the Asian Indoor Games later this year, won't an open tournament help them to identify the strongest players?

This is certainly another major SCREW-UP by KAM.