It's getting closer

PARK Joo Bong, who is extremely keen on accepting an offer from the BA of Malaysia (BAM) as its director of coaching, has spoken to his present employers the Nippon Badminton Association.

Joo Bong, in a telephone interview from Tokyo, said the association wants to extend his current contract as Japan's head coach until 2016 but the South Korean disclosed that he is looking forward to returning to Malaysia after serving as the national men's doubles chief coach between 2000-2003.

The coach stated that he is waiting for official confirmation from BAM before talking to Nippon Badminton Association for an early release from his contract which runs until next March.

"Nippon Badminton Association has offered me to continue until 2016 but there has been an initial offer from BAM.

"If there is an official letter of confirmation from BAM, I would be able to talk to my employers again of a possibility of coming to Malaysia in January," said Joo Bong.

"I will be with the Japan players competing in the Denmark Open (Oct 16-21) and French Open (Oct 23-28) and will be meeting my current employers."

Should Joo Bong get an early release and accepts BAM's offer, he will start as director of coaching in January with the objective of making Malaysia's dream of winning an Olympic gold a reality in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games.

Joo Bong will be in charge of the 2016, 2020 and 2024 project squads but the Korean's priority will be the 2016 project where he may have to look beyond Lee Chong Wei and men's doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong to ensure Malaysia don't miss out on Olympic gold.

Chong Wei will be 34 then while there is a strong possibility Kien Keat and Boon Heong will be split and Joo Bong's expertise will be needed in creating a new winning combination in the men's doubles.

BAM president Datuk Seri Nadzmi Salleh confirmed last week that they are going for a foreign candidate and has strongly hinted they are after Joo Bong for the position as the director of coaching.

Negotiations are believed to have been concluded and BAM is expected make an official offer soon and Joo Bong is expected to sign the contract before BAM's council meeting in early November.