lonely lane to the future

GANESAN Subramaniam has been running for the past 22 years.

The national middle and steeplechase specialist called it quits right after the 2005 Manila SEA Games.

Today, all Ganesan wants to do is coach. Sadly, he doesn't know how to do so or where to go.

Ganesan is not alone. There are many athletes in the country who have 'wasted' their youth and education all for the glory of the nation. Yet, only the officials and the presidents of the associations seem to have a bright future while these stars are left in the cold.

It's just a lonely lane to the future for our once heroes.

Ganesan, who works in RHB Bank, was told of a possible VSS scheme being handed out to the employees by the end of the year. True or otherwise, he has made up his mind to quit the banking line and concentrate on coaching.

Currently he coaches four potential national materials for free at the Kampung Pandan Sports Complex and the Titiwangsa Lake Gardens.

He applied for a job in the Sukan Teras programme but was rejected due to age. They claim Ganesan, 37, is too young for the job and that with children around, it wouldn't project a good image. Sigh!

It is of no wonder why former hockey international Arul Selvaraj has left the country to coach a South African varsity team while the other former nationals have left the scene for good.

Here we have a former international who can inject so much of valuable experience to the younger runners, yet he is not given a chance to do so. Then we have the Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said saying we need more local coaches, yet she was the same person who appointed a string of foriegners including Aussie Damien Kelly to head various posts within the sports administration of the country.

This is what you call "cakap tak serupa bikin!"

-The Man Who Sold The World-