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发表于 2-2-2008 03:35 PM
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Former All-England champion Hafiz quits Nusa Mahsuri
By RAJES PAUL
PETALING JAYA: After nine topsy-turvy years with Nusa Mahsuri,former All-England champion Mohd Hafiz Hashim has decided to cut tieswith the club in a bid to revive his flagging fortunes.
The 25-year-old Hafiz is now hoping to join another professional club, KLRC Bhd.
 | During better times: Hafiz Hashim posing with the All-England trophy he won in 2003. Since thattriumph, his badminton career has taken a free-fall.
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Although speculation had been rife about Hafiz’s plans to leave, hisannouncement yesterday – after a two-hour meeting with Nusa Mahsuripresident Jalani Sidek – still came as a shock.
Hafiz who has been with the club since 1999 has had many ups and downs over the years.
After achieving career highs with the 2002 Manchester CommonwealthGames singles gold and the 2003 All-England title, his form has taken anose-dive, especially in the last two years.
Hafiz, who met National Sport Council (NSC) director-general DatukZolkples Embong and Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar to explainhis decision, said that money was not the main reason for him leaving Nusa Mahsuri.
“Yes, money has got something to do with it. It is actually a littlebit of everything. I want to try something new. I have to do somethingto revive my career. I have reached a point where I cannot be with Nusaanymore. I have been there too long,” said Hafiz yesterday.
“And yes, I am even prepared to leave my coach Misbun (Sidek) to revive my fortunes with KLRC”.
Hafiz's monthly allowance from NSC was cut from RM2,550 to RM550 in October last year.
In fact, he wanted to leave the club last month but chose to stay onfor the back-to-back Opens in Malaysia and South Korea so as not todisrupt the national team’s preparations.
He had been quietly hoping for BAM, NSC and Nusa to help him sortout the monthly allowance issue. But when no one stepped in to help, hedecided it was time to leave.
“The pay cut affected me greatly. I brought up this matter to mycoach, (Yap) Kim Hock (chief coach), Ganga (Rao, BAM secretary), DatukZolkples and Jalani but my complaints were not taken seriously. Well,at least that was how I felt at the time,” said Hafiz.
“I was told that RM550 was sufficient because as an elite player Iwas given accommodation and food at Bukit Jalil. But I am married nowand I have more responsibilities. No one seemed to understand this.
“I trained as hard as anyone else but I did not get what I was due. Eventually, it began to affect my game.”
Hafiz also delivered a parting shot at his club.
“There were promises (made by the club) that were not fulfilled. Mybonus for winning the All-England and Commonwealth Games titles wereonly paid in 2006. And my club did not give me monthly allowances although I had requested many times. I tolerated it all until ... (thepay cut by the NSC),” he said.
“I may be called a traitor (for leaving the club) ... but I am prepared to face the consequences.”
However, he only had good things to say about his coach Misbun.
“I had a face-to-face talk with him about this decision. He knows mypredicament and said he was flexible. I owe him a lot and to me he will always be my coach,” said Hafiz.
“I am very sure that I can approach him any time and he will bethere to give me advice ... that’s the kind of relationship we have.”
Although Hafiz had decided to move on, he still has a few things toiron out – especially about his contract with Yonex and his eligibility to play for the country.
“I have been entered for the Thomas Cup qualifying tournament (Feb19-24 in Vietnam). I do not know how the BAM will look at this decision. I am ready to play for the country under the banner ofanother club,” said Hafiz. |
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