Kaplan's a stag

Kaplan's a stag

Upon returning home from a business trip to Bangkok on Tuesday night, Singapore Athletic Association (SAA) president Tang Weng Fei was greeted by news that he would face a challenge at next month's elections.

Former national runner Sng Sze Hiang has stated his intention to run for track and field's top post, and has assembled a team that included two incumbent vice-presidents of the SAA, Loh Chan Pew and Steven Lee, as well as another veteran official, Ho Mun Cheong, to fight for other posts in the management committee.

But Tang is not fazed by the challenge.

At a press conference at his Collyer Quay office yesterday morning, the oil trader shared details of his team's manifesto ahead of the June 23 elections, where the candidate who receives the support of a majority of the 22 SAA affiliate members wins.

Said Tang: "My message (to affiliates) is to judge us on what we've done over the last four years.

"It's also important to look at the long-term renewal of leadership within the SAA."

A GRADE

When asked to rate his team's performance since he assumed leadership in June 2010, Tang said a "seven or eight" out of 10, or an A grade.

He admitted the SAA had not managed the secretariat well, after it had been plagued by spats and resignations over the years. "That's why I've been thinking: where did we go wrong," he said.

"The mistake we made, I think, was that we relied too much on (senior) ex-athletes with baggage.

"Being self-centred and egoistic - that's why they were champions - there are bound to be differences and conflicts. The only way forward is for people with no baggage to lead."

Tang worked on two solutions to try and remedy the problem.

One: Bring fresh faces into the management committee - like 30-year-old Ron Koh, 32-year-old Jezreel Mok and 27-year-old Lee Yan Lin.

Two: Bring in an individual in a role similar to that of a general manager (GM), which would allow current GM James Wong to focus on marketing and attract sponsors for the association.

It would also allow newly-appointed development and performance chief Asmah Hanim to better focus on the technical aspects of her role.

"I've spoken to Richard (Seow, Sport Singapore chairman) and (Sport Singapore CEO Lim) Teck Yin a couple of times about this," said Tang.

"We discussed this with our exco and they said it's a good idea. At the end of it, they (Sport Singapore) have to decide, but it's a possible option."

YOUNGER MEMBERS

He hoped the move to bring in younger members into the management committee would convince the affiliates that the SAA had a leadership renewal plan in place.

Tang believed the SAA had done well under his stewardship in the last four years.

He pointed out that the SAA was one of the 21 national sports associations (49, in total) whose three-year funding plan was approved by Sport Singapore.

He said the association's reserves - from around $600,000 in July 2010 to around $750,000 now - was proof of their financial prudence.

The former national hurdler then revealed his pride over the SAA's online presence, which he said had drawn praise from International Association of Athletics Federations officials.

He disagreed the assertion by former ally Ho that the local scene was in disharmony as he cited cases like that of pole vaulter Rachel Yang (see sidebar).

"It's easy to say. I understand the ground is unhappy. But how many (athletes are unhappy)? A handful... the ground is sweet. The people are training hard," he insisted.

"There will always be athletes and coaches who are unhappy with the association (and) a lot of it boils down to funding issues."

Tang admitted he was "hurt" and "sad" by the defection of Loh, whom he once described as "one of my closest friends".

Insisting he wanted "clean elections", he said his team would not make any comments about their challengers.

"It doesn't matter to me who wins the election. What's most important is that track and field must move forward.

"Let's just put it this way, I wouldn't lose sleep if I lose the election," he asserted.

"But I'm here to do a public service, and I believe there are some things I still have to do, that's why I'm standing for re-election."

THE INCUMBENT

President: Tang Weng Fei

Vice-president (Competitions organising):William Wong

Vice-president (Training and selection): C Kunalan

Vice-president (Finance): Jezreel Mok

Honorary secretary: Patrick Pak

Assistant honorary secretary: Mona Ng

Treasurer: Cheng Heng Tan

Chairman (Cross country): Ghana Segaran

Chairman (Race walking): S Govindaraju

Chairman (Officials): Choo Sau Mei

Chairman (Technical & equipment): Ron Koh

Women's representative: Lee Yan Lin

Statistician: Toh Wei De

THE CHALLENGERS

President: Sng Sze Hiang

Vice-president (Competitions organising): Loh Chan Pew

Vice-president (Training and selection): Steven Lee

Vice-president (Finance): R Rajandran

Honorary secretary: Ho Mun Cheong

Assistant honorary secretary: G Balasekaran

Treasurer: A Alagirisamy

Chairman (Cross country): Tan Ming Jen

Chairman (Race walking): Dr Leong Lee San

Chairman (Officials): Not listed

Chairman (Technical & equipment): Not listed

Women's representative: Not listed

Statistician: Not listed

 

msazali@sph.com.sg


This article was first published on May 29, 2014.
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