Jason Thomas
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
National badminton coach Indra Setiawan speaks during a training session at the youth centre in Bandar Seri Begawan. Picture: BT/Saifulizam
THE national badminton team finally has a leader. Indonesian Indra Setiawan took charge of the national badminton team last September and recently took the time to talk to The Brunei Times' Jason Thomas about himself, his impression as the country's coach and what he needs to improve the sport in Brunei.
Good evening. Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your coaching career?
I am 43-years-old and from South Sulawesi. I was the national coach of the Philippines from 2007 to 2009 and then handled the Mexico national team from January to July 2010. In 1995 I formed a club in Indonesia, Tunas Jaya, and I was the head coach there.
What can you tell me about your recent achievements as a coach?
I was in charge of three tournaments when I was in Mexico. The second was a national-level competition and I bettered the target of six gold medals by winning nine. I also helped the team to win three gold, two silver and four bronze medals during the 21st Central American and Caribbean Games last July.
Have you ever represented Indonesia as a player?
I didn't want to become a player because I was injured early in my career. I took a break from the game, got married in 1992 and I started back with coaching in 1999.
How did you find out about the position in Brunei?
I was informed by my sports contacts in Indonesia that Brunei's Department of Youth and Sports was looking for a badminton coach for the national team, so I submitted my biodata and profile. That was in early 2010 but I was already in Mexico in late 2009. Then last April I received word that the Department of Youth and Sports accepted my application.
What is the age group of the players in the current national set-up and what do you focus on during training?
The players here range from 13 to 19 years. We usually work on their technique, tactics and game plan.
How do you rate the level of badminton in Brunei compared to the Philippines and Mexico?
I think it's almost the same. I think this is because in all three countries they prioritise their studies over badminton. They feel there is no guarantee that they can earn a living playing badminton but they can have a good job if they study.
How has your first four months as coach here gone?
The most important thing here is time time for training. The players are all either in school or have jobs, so we have very little time to train. The players also need to compete in tournaments if not there is no use training. What I need is the time to shape them. As it is, we don't have morning sessions. I want training to be three hours, from three to six, but even that I can't get. Right now it's only two hours. In Indonesia and Malaysia the players train twice a day for four hours, so that is eight hours a day. Here we only have two, so how can we improve? If you don't work hard at badminton you can never progress. Sometimes I ask the players that miss training why didn't they come and they said they had work or extra-classes.
What else do you need?
I must have the support of all parties, the Department of Youth and Sports and BNBA you need to write that down! For me as a coach, the players here are talented, motivated and have the spirit. I can only make an impact if I have the right conditions. The players need chances to compete and sparring partners. I am sure I can get them sparring partners from Indonesia.
How important is it to get our players competing regularly?
Players will get bored and lose spirit if they only train. If they have competitions they have something to look forward to. We are wasting time if we only train. We need to have a goal and target certain tournaments. This way we can see the performance of not only the players but myself as the coach. Look at coach Wu (former national coach Wu Xue Kai whose contract expired early last year), he was here for 15 years but what came of it? We didn't play in any big tournaments or the Southeast Asian Games.
What events do the national shuttlers have to look forward to this year?
I am not sure what upcoming events there are in Brunei and abroad. I know we are not joining this year's SEA Games in Indonesia but I don't know why. There are many tournaments in Indonesia and Malaysia which we need to join because it will benefit our players. For them and for me, it will be useful in gauging performance.
Have you noticed any players that stand out?
I have seen a few skilled players but I know I have not seen all the active badminton players in Brunei yet. The picture of the talent pool here is not clear to me yet. But I know our players have what it takes to reach the standard of Malaysia and Indonesia, what remains to be seen is how to find time to train and join more tournaments.
Have you talked to the Department or the Brunei National Badminton Association (BNBA) about any of this?
I have already submitted reports to my coordinator Kifli Hj Jaafar Head of Sports Coaching and Development Unit (SCDU). I want to meet with the Department of Youth and Sports and the Brunei National Badminton Association (BNBA) to iron out a better programme so we can improve the level of the sport in Brunei. We have a meeting on Sunday to talk things over.
What do you plan on bringing forward during the meeting?
I need time and I need support, support to help get the players off school or work early so they can train. I need help in getting approval from the schools or offices to release the players. Some of the players only get to training at 5 and they are still tired from work. They train one hour and that's it.
Do you have any plans to go to the other districts and scout for talent?
Of course! That is part of my job. I want to go to the different districts and scout for those who have talent, but I am not sure when I will be able to do that.
What is your aim here? What do you hope to achieve in Brunei?
My target is for badminton in Brunei to progress. Looking at the Asean countries, we can see that their badminton is emerging. Countries like Thailand and Laos were nowhere in past years, now they have made their mark. But where is Brunei? The time has come for Brunei badminton to shine. If we don't work hard there is no hope.
Any idea when Brunei will make their mark in the regional scene?
My plan for Brunei is for the long-term, in the next three to five years. My contract is only for two years though so we will see if it is renewed or not. I want to bring Brunei to the level that Indonesia and Malaysia are at. My target is for the 2017 SEA Games, it's alright if we don't win gold - what I want to see is Brunei compete.
Do you have anything else to add?
I can only make an impact if I have the right conditions. Once again, I need time, support, tournaments for the players to compete in and sparring partners. I also hope you can mention a bit about my pay. I got more when I was in the Philippines and Mexico and this is something I have already talked to the relevant authorities about, but have yet to get a reply.
The Brunei Times
Good evening. Can you tell me a bit about yourself and your coaching career?
I am 43-years-old and from South Sulawesi. I was the national coach of the Philippines from 2007 to 2009 and then handled the Mexico national team from January to July 2010. In 1995 I formed a club in Indonesia, Tunas Jaya, and I was the head coach there.
What can you tell me about your recent achievements as a coach?
I was in charge of three tournaments when I was in Mexico. The second was a national-level competition and I bettered the target of six gold medals by winning nine. I also helped the team to win three gold, two silver and four bronze medals during the 21st Central American and Caribbean Games last July.
Have you ever represented Indonesia as a player?
I didn't want to become a player because I was injured early in my career. I took a break from the game, got married in 1992 and I started back with coaching in 1999.
How did you find out about the position in Brunei?
I was informed by my sports contacts in Indonesia that Brunei's Department of Youth and Sports was looking for a badminton coach for the national team, so I submitted my biodata and profile. That was in early 2010 but I was already in Mexico in late 2009. Then last April I received word that the Department of Youth and Sports accepted my application.
What is the age group of the players in the current national set-up and what do you focus on during training?
The players here range from 13 to 19 years. We usually work on their technique, tactics and game plan.
How do you rate the level of badminton in Brunei compared to the Philippines and Mexico?
I think it's almost the same. I think this is because in all three countries they prioritise their studies over badminton. They feel there is no guarantee that they can earn a living playing badminton but they can have a good job if they study.
How has your first four months as coach here gone?
The most important thing here is time time for training. The players are all either in school or have jobs, so we have very little time to train. The players also need to compete in tournaments if not there is no use training. What I need is the time to shape them. As it is, we don't have morning sessions. I want training to be three hours, from three to six, but even that I can't get. Right now it's only two hours. In Indonesia and Malaysia the players train twice a day for four hours, so that is eight hours a day. Here we only have two, so how can we improve? If you don't work hard at badminton you can never progress. Sometimes I ask the players that miss training why didn't they come and they said they had work or extra-classes.
What else do you need?
I must have the support of all parties, the Department of Youth and Sports and BNBA you need to write that down! For me as a coach, the players here are talented, motivated and have the spirit. I can only make an impact if I have the right conditions. The players need chances to compete and sparring partners. I am sure I can get them sparring partners from Indonesia.
How important is it to get our players competing regularly?
Players will get bored and lose spirit if they only train. If they have competitions they have something to look forward to. We are wasting time if we only train. We need to have a goal and target certain tournaments. This way we can see the performance of not only the players but myself as the coach. Look at coach Wu (former national coach Wu Xue Kai whose contract expired early last year), he was here for 15 years but what came of it? We didn't play in any big tournaments or the Southeast Asian Games.
What events do the national shuttlers have to look forward to this year?
I am not sure what upcoming events there are in Brunei and abroad. I know we are not joining this year's SEA Games in Indonesia but I don't know why. There are many tournaments in Indonesia and Malaysia which we need to join because it will benefit our players. For them and for me, it will be useful in gauging performance.
Have you noticed any players that stand out?
I have seen a few skilled players but I know I have not seen all the active badminton players in Brunei yet. The picture of the talent pool here is not clear to me yet. But I know our players have what it takes to reach the standard of Malaysia and Indonesia, what remains to be seen is how to find time to train and join more tournaments.
Have you talked to the Department or the Brunei National Badminton Association (BNBA) about any of this?
I have already submitted reports to my coordinator Kifli Hj Jaafar Head of Sports Coaching and Development Unit (SCDU). I want to meet with the Department of Youth and Sports and the Brunei National Badminton Association (BNBA) to iron out a better programme so we can improve the level of the sport in Brunei. We have a meeting on Sunday to talk things over.
What do you plan on bringing forward during the meeting?
I need time and I need support, support to help get the players off school or work early so they can train. I need help in getting approval from the schools or offices to release the players. Some of the players only get to training at 5 and they are still tired from work. They train one hour and that's it.
Do you have any plans to go to the other districts and scout for talent?
Of course! That is part of my job. I want to go to the different districts and scout for those who have talent, but I am not sure when I will be able to do that.
What is your aim here? What do you hope to achieve in Brunei?
My target is for badminton in Brunei to progress. Looking at the Asean countries, we can see that their badminton is emerging. Countries like Thailand and Laos were nowhere in past years, now they have made their mark. But where is Brunei? The time has come for Brunei badminton to shine. If we don't work hard there is no hope.
Any idea when Brunei will make their mark in the regional scene?
My plan for Brunei is for the long-term, in the next three to five years. My contract is only for two years though so we will see if it is renewed or not. I want to bring Brunei to the level that Indonesia and Malaysia are at. My target is for the 2017 SEA Games, it's alright if we don't win gold - what I want to see is Brunei compete.
Do you have anything else to add?
I can only make an impact if I have the right conditions. Once again, I need time, support, tournaments for the players to compete in and sparring partners. I also hope you can mention a bit about my pay. I got more when I was in the Philippines and Mexico and this is something I have already talked to the relevant authorities about, but have yet to get a reply.
The Brunei Times
