Rexy urges PBSI to treat shuttlers better

Rexy urges PBSI to treat shuttlers better

By Primastuti Handayani

JAKARTA (JP): Rexy Ronald Mainaky is a familiar name to
badminton fanatics, not only in Indonesia but throughout the
world. With partner Ricky Ahmad Subagja, Rexy managed to stay on
top for more than three years starting 1992.

Rexy, 31, started his career in badminton in childhood thanks
to father Jantje Rudolf Mainaky, who passed away in 1993 before
his son's success at winning the 1996 Olympics gold medal.

Born in Ternate, Maluku, on March 9, 1968, Rexy is married to
Henny Saijati. They have two children, Geraldine and Christian.

Partnering Ricky since 1991, Rexy is known as the most
outspoken shuttler in Indonesia and was picked as chairman of the
shuttlers' board at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung,
East Jakarta.

His fiery temper combined with Ricky's coolness made their
partnership a fire-and-ice combination.

He is not the only badminton player in his family, but he is
the most successful. Brothers Richard Leonard is the national
mixed doubles coach, Reony Frederick coaches in Japan, Marlev
Mario plays men's singles and Karel Leopold plays men's doubles.

Only the eldest, Marinez Rudolf, and the only sister, Vediana
Valentina Dione, do not play badminton.

Recently, the 1995 world champion sparked a controversy when
he expressed disappointment with the Badminton Association of
Indonesia (PBSI), especially at its athlete development
officials, including Christian Hadinata who discovered talented
Rexy and partnered him with Ricky.

The 1995 and 1996 All England champion told The Jakarta Post
of his dissatisfaction and his plan to coach in England.

Question: I've heard that you plan to move to England to start
a career as a coach due to your dissatisfaction with some of PBSI
officials. Is that true?

Answer: Yes, it's true. It has often been said that Ricky and
I are unable to achieve better in international tournaments due
to our age. We both realize that we are not young anymore and we
won't be able to perform as well as we did several years ago. The
officials don't have to force me and Ricky to quit, because we
both will resign anyway. But they keep asking me when I will
leave the center, as if Ricky and I haven't made any contribution
to the country and to PBSI.

Q: But you just won the Indonesia Open title and PBSI executive
director Karsono told reporters that PBSI won't allow you to
resign. How do you respond that?

A: They said that only because Ricky and I just won the Indonesia
Open. If we didn't, I doubt they would mind. It also happened to
Hariyanto Arbi. If he didn't win the Singapore Open, would PBSI
be concern about his plan to move to Singapore?

Besides, I feel the training situation in the center is no
longer conducive. We don't have any problems with the juniors,
but the officials don't seem to envision us here for much longer.

Q: How did you get an offer from England to coach there?

A: Ricky and I were competing in the All England in March when an
official of the Badminton Association of England, Lars Sologub,
approached me and offered me a job as a coach in England. After
that his colleague, Steve Baddeley, discussed the job and also
the contract through the mail. I will visit their training camp
in a small town, about 30 minutes drive from London, in late
October to see their facilities. If everything goes well and they
can guarantee my family's needs there, I'll move. I'm not after
the big salary; it's because I feel unappreciated here.

Q: England is still coached by South Korean Park Joo-bong, until
October when he moves to Malaysia. Are you prepared to take over
his job because Park is considered successful in improving
British doubles in international performances?

A: It's a challenge for me. I'm asking for a one-year contract.
They want me to coach them until the 2004 Olympics in Athens. But
I prefer to maintain what Park has achieved, hopefully I can
improve it. If I can do the job well, I'll extend the contract.

Q: What's Ricky's reaction to your plan?

A: I have talked to Ricky and he said it's all up to me.

Q: How about your family?

A: Henny fully supports my decision either to stay here or to
move.

Q: You said you got an offer from Sweden to play there. Is that
true?

A: We haven't had a formal discussion with the Badminton
Association of Sweden. When Swede men's doubles, Peter Axelsson
and Par Gunnar Jonsson, came here for training early last month,
I asked them about the possibility of playing for Sweden. They
both welcomed my idea. But still it's just an idea.

Q: Aren't you worried that badminton fans will accuse you of
being unpatriotic?

A: I realize the risk. But they must also understand our
situation here. Ricky and I can be considered the ones who
popularize men's doubles event to make juniors really want to
play doubles. The event is not only to accommodate singles, who
are no longer able to perform well.

Q: Do you think the juniors are ready to take over your place?

A: I think Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan are the most prepared duo.
But they and other doubles must learn how to deal with the non-
technical factors. They must realize that they are in top
position and all shuttlers want to topple them. They must learn
that to prepare themselves for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.

Q: What do you consider would be the most ideal athlete
development system to be applied here?

A: First of all, the relationship between athletes, coaches and
officials must be good. Officials and coaches must be able to
increase shuttlers' motivation, especially prior to a big event.
Officials of PBSI athlete development must give coaches the
chance to make programs for all players and decide who will
compete in which tournament. The officials must not let down
coaches by interfering in their decisions. Coaches know their
athletes better than the officials.

Q: As chairman of the shuttlers board, what exactly is your duty?

A: I and deputy Hendrawan (men's singles) usually represent
shuttlers when they have complaints or problems. So far, our main
problem is the contract money which, most of the time, we receive
later than promised. This time, athletes have urged me and
Hendrawan to ask officials about the payment, which should be
received by the end of this week (Saturday, Sept. 18).

We also want to ask officials about the amount deducted from
the contract payment, which is 50 percent. They always say the
money will be used to finance our tournaments, but then they say
they still lack funds. Where does the money go?

Q: Do you think PBSI has given enough attention to retired
national shuttlers?

A: I don't think PBSI cares about retired players' condition.
They must find a way to guarantee the welfare of retired players,
probably by handing over the a cash bonus instead of a bonus in
the form of insurance. Badminton has always contributed gold
medals in the Olympic Games, but somehow it's not as popular here
as basketball. PBSI must be able to sell badminton to make it the
most popular sport in the country.

Q: How did it come about that your family turned into a badminton
family?

A: My late father was an athlete. He was good in volleyball,
tennis, basketball, and track and field. But his favorite sport
was badminton. All his sons love soccer and boxing. My father was
also a good musician. All his children can sing and play the
guitar, except for me. I can only play soccer and badminton. I
never had the inclination to learn to play the guitar really
well.

Q: Talking about your family, how did you meet Henny?

A: We lived in the same neighborhood in Ternate. Every morning I
passed her house on the way to school. I was attracted to her
ever since I was in junior high school. One of Henny's cousins
tried to pair me with her by stealing her handkerchief and
forcing me to return it. She did many things to get us together.

Q: Will you allow your children to become shuttlers?

A: It depends on them. If they want to play badminton, I will
encourage them. But if the condition in the center remains the
same, I'll ask them to play for another country.

Q: One more question, what is your favorite food?

A: Noodles. They're easy to find any place.