MELAKA: The volleyball coach, who earned the wrath of the people for slapping two teenagers during a tournament recently, has already issued an apology to the affected players.
State Youth Development, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) committee chairman V.P Shanmugam said the coach, who is a secondary school teacher, issued the apology to the two teenagers immediately after the tournament in Kota Tinggi, Johor, ended on Dec 16.
Shanmugam said the coach had also met with the parents of both teenagers to apologise for his action and clear the air on what really transpired during the incident.
"I am of the view that the case has been solved after the teenagers as well as their parents voluntarily accepted the apology from the coach.
"There was also no police report lodged (over the incident)," he told reporters here today.
Based on records, Shanmugam said, the teacher has been coaching both teenagers since they were in primary school and that the incident, which he was depicted in a clip of slapping them, was the first.
"He is a very dedicated coach and teacher who has been training the Under 14 team since they were in primary school
"Perhaps he was disappointed with the drop in the performance of his players that made him act in such a way. However, it should not have happened," he said.
He added that full report over the case was submitted to the National Sports Council yesterday and would be submitted to the Youth and Sports Ministry tomorrow.
Shanmugam, nevertheless, said the Melaka Sports Council would make a decision this Wednesday either to suspend the coach or otherwise.
Although the Malaysia Volleyball Association (Mava) has made its decision to suspend the coach from involving in all national volleyball activities until investigations are completed, Shanmugam said it was the Melaka Volleyball Association, which had appointed the teacher to lead the team during the Under-14 Junior Volleyball Championship.
"After the exco meeting this Wednesday, I will call up the coach, the two players as well as representatives from the National Sports Council, Youth and Sports Ministry and the management of the tournament.
"I will also invite representatives from the Melaka Volleyball Association and other parties if we should take similar action as the one taken by Mava.
"If we can find ways to resolve the issue amicably, no action will taken against the coach in the case," he said.
Earlier today, Youth and Sports Ministry announced that it would conduct an independent investigation into the case with the Education Ministry.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the probe would also identify if the coach had used the same coaching method, as depicted in the clip that went viral on the social media, against the volleyball team during previous occasions.