Kenneth says plans on track even with exit of prized player Ng
PETALING JAYA: National singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen insists his plans for the national squad will not change significantly despite Ng Tze Yong’s departure from the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
Jonassen said Tze Yong’s future had remained uncertain over the past year as the shuttler focused on recovering from injury, meaning there had been little opportunity to discuss his long-term plans.
Now that Tze Yong has decided to turn independent, Jonassen acknowledged there would be some adjustments but stressed they would not have a major impact on the team’s overall direction.
“Due to the circumstances when I arrived, he was coming back from a back injury before suffering the cruel knee injury. Tze Yong’s future plan had been on hold until we were ready to discuss that path.
“So it doesn’t really change that much. My approach to players is very individual anyway. I look at each player’s career path and how they’re going to reach their next goal.
“Something has shifted for sure, but I will keep focusing, as I have over the last 12 months, on all our players,” said Jonassen.
Since Tze Yong suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in May last year, Jonassen has relied mainly on Leong Jun Hao, Justin Hoh and Eogene Ewe for most tournaments, while also calling up professionals Lee Zii Jia and Aidil Sholeh Ali Sadikin for team events.
Jonassen also admitted he was disappointed to see Tze Yong leave, revealing that the Johor-born shuttler was one of the players he had been most looking forward to coaching when he arrived in Malaysia.
However, Tze Yong’s career was disrupted by a string of injury setbacks. He first suffered a serious back injury in 2024 that required two operations before tearing his ACL last year, delaying his comeback once again.
“We’ve had quite a few discussions along the way. It has been a very good process with great honesty, and a lot of thought has gone into this decision. I can only say it has been a really good process.
“From a personal perspective, it’s always very tough to lose a player with the qualities and potential he has.
“He’s naturally a very talented badminton player.
“There’s no doubt that when I decided to come here in 2024, he was one of the players I was looking forward to coaching and spending a lot of time with at tournaments and in training.
“Unfortunately, fate had other plans, especially because of the injury setbacks.
“But I wish him all the best, and I truly believe that if he can get his body right and stay healthy, he still has a great future ahead of him,” he added.
