KUALA LUMPUR: The arrival of a new head coach may have little impact if players lack the determination to drive change within themselves, says national badminton icon Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
The national squad will welcome a new singles head coach on Nov 25. However, Chong Wei stressed that coaches contribute only 15 to 20 per cent to an athlete's success, with the remaining effort dependent on the players themselves.
"The coach's role is to provide guidance, structure training programmes and motivate the players," said Chong Wei.
"But players must know what they want and show commitment, as 80 per cent of their performance depends on their own efforts.
"Even if the world's best coach arrives, it's pointless if players don't listen or take training seriously."
Reflecting on his own career, the three-time Olympic silver medallist said: "I never worried about who was coaching me. I always knew what I wanted.
"Every day, I hit the court with a clear purpose.
"The coach didn't need to push me. I knew what needed to be done."
Chong Wei, who retired in 2019, trained under several coaches, including Li Mao (China), Morten Frost (Denmark), Hendrawan (Indonesia), and local mentors Datuk Misbun Sidek, Datuk Rashid Sidek and Datuk Tey Seu Bock.
Five candidates are reportedly in the running for the role, including former Danish head coach Kenneth Jonassen, Indonesia's Mulyo Handoyo and Spain's Fernando Rivas.
Jonassen is believed to be BA of Malaysia's top choice.