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SSA allays clubs’ concerns over new national scheme

SINGAPORE — Compared with the now-defunct Centre of Excellence (COE), which was unpopular with many of the Singapore Swimming Association’s (SSA) affiliate clubs, the SSA’s new national training programme will be different, while staying committed to protecting the interests of the clubs and its swimmers.

SINGAPORE — Compared with the now-defunct Centre of Excellence (COE), which was unpopular with many of the Singapore Swimming Association’s (SSA) affiliate clubs, the SSA’s new national training programme will be different, while staying committed to protecting the interests of the clubs and its swimmers.

To be helmed by newly-appointed national head coach Sergio Lopez, the programme had raised concerns among some clubs that it would be like the COE, which was set up in 2004 but had been accused of “poaching” talent from clubs for the national side, before it shut down four years later.

Under the SSA’s new programme, swimmers invited to train full-time with the national team will be offered a contract. While the terms are still being finalised, swimmers will be required to continue paying membership fees to their respective clubs and represent them at local meets.

The deal could also bar them from changing clubs in favour of cheaper membership prices elsewhere.

Swimmers will be invited to the programme based on merit and with reference to their Sports Excellence Carding (spexCarding) status with Sport Singapore (Sport SG). Lopez, who coached national swimmer and Asian Games champion Joseph Schooling for five years at the Bolles School in Florida, will also conduct coaching workshops and seminars.

The programme is part of the SSA’s plan to elevate the level of Singapore swimming to world-class standards in the next five years.

“For a national team to come together for training will not be easy,” SSA secretary-general Oon Jin Teik told TODAY.

“But this is for a national agenda, and we are looking for full endorsement and full support from the fraternity from day one if we are finally going to really move beyond the Southeast Asian Games level.”

The SSA’s new national training programme has, understandably, caused some concern among the local swimming fraternity.

“There are definitely different camps of views on this centralised training programme and I hope it will be implemented properly (this time),” said the parent of a swimmer, who declined to be named.

But May Schooling, Joseph’s mother, said: “Coaches should feel proud that their swimmers are being selected for national team training. It means that they are doing a good job. In the United States, swimmers are all excited about being selected for national team training in Colorado, and it should be the way here too.”

National swimmer and SSA Athletes Commission head Russell Ong added that the clubs’ interests, particularly in terms of numbers and revenue streams, must be looked after.

Acknowledging the concerns over the SSA’s new national programme, Oon assured it would be run differently under Lopez. As aquatics director and head coach at Bolles, the 1988 Olympic bronze medallist has helped develop the likes of 2011 World Junior Championship men’s 200m breaststroke bronze medallist Ryan Murphy and women’s 200m individual medley world record holder Ariana Kukors.

“As opposed to the COE, which was an NSA (national sports association) initiative, this is a national initiative, and we have the endorsement of Sport SG, the Singapore National Olympic Council and the Singapore Sports Institute,” said the former national swimmer.

“We (now) have a world-class coach (in Lopez) and we need everyone to pull together as one for Team Singapore.”

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