Double SEA Games Champion Soh Rui Yong who successfully defended his title in the Malaysian SEA Games in the Marathon. Is also a crusader of the right regarding policies on athletes incentive and the right of athletes to receive what they are entitled to.

Under Singapore current policy Gold medal winners must give 20% of their $10,000 which is $2,000 to their NSA. In this case Singapore Athletics.

Singapore Athletics stated they have been paying Soh his monthly salary totalling $10,800. However disputes saying he has only received $7,200. One block of $3,600 before SEA Games and the remaining $3,600 was delayed. He stated $3,600 is still owing. While administrators are paid on time athletes wait for late payment of salaries.

You know what’s funny? We’re debating whether I should be donating 20 percent of my gold medal award money to Singapore Athletics.

The real question should be whether under performing SA administrators, paid S$3,000 to S$14,000 monthly, should be getting a 20 percent pay cut and we can channel those funds to training and development of athletes and coaches instead. Soh Said.

Soh told ST he would rather the S$2,000 go to his American coach Ben Rosario who helped him with his training.

Amount Singapore Athletics has spent on the salaries of sprints head coaches/technical directors since Nov 2014: over $400,000 (monthly salary of $10,000 – $14,000 for a head coach/technical director)

Total number of sprints gold medals won at the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games: 1 (Shanti Pereria, 200m in 2015, coached by Margaret Oh – who is not paid a salary by Singapore Athletics)

Amount Singapore Athletics has spent on the salaries of distance coaches since Jan 2015: $0

Total number of distance gold medals won at the 2015 and 2017 SEA Games: 2 (Soh Rui Yong, 2015 and 2017 Marathon).

Soh recently clocked 1:08 at the Blackmores Marathon in Sydney last weekend.

ANALYSIS

After reading several Comment Reviews on Singapore Athletics more recently seem to be negative.

Its very obvious the SA has its priorities in the wrong place. It is investing into the people who are CLEARLY not getting any results. While not giving financial assistance to those who get the results. Good leadership must have a long term vision and short term check points along the way to that long term vision.

It seems the short term check points are coming from Coaches who are functioning Independently of the NSA. When more medals end up coming from Non-National coaches at international meets its about time management review not just their coaching lineup but also their policies are in line with a long time vision, which is both measurable and feasible for the growth of the sport.

Good leadership must also be willing to offer self constructive criticism and accept Feedback from its stakeholders.

It must be prepared to back track and go back to the drawing board if its planning and strategy is not leading to results. Athletics is a numbers game it primarily all about results, improvements, national records and medals. Anyone who says otherwise is compromising for failure to produce the prior.

Relating to the Philippines situation the way Soh has been treated has some parallels although not entirely the same as the Filipina Marathoner Mary Joy Tabal. We will write more on this in a future article.

Disclaimer: Regarding this write up and others on this website. Pinoyathletics.info is in no way associated with Philippines Athletics Track and Field Association.

 

Sources:

Underperforming S’pore Athletics staff should take 20% pay cut, Soh Rui Yong says

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