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Mr Tai, the aging athletics teacher at SUKK Temarah, had
celebrated his 58th birthday. Despite his age, he had a notable track record
of successful coaching, having mentored national-level athletes and coaches
alike. The school administration valued his experience and skills, and did
not want to see him retire. In the previous year, however, the school's
performance in the National Athletics Championship was underwhelming. Mr Tai
was determined to redeem the school's reputation in the upcoming competition
with the help of twin athletes, Farid and Hassan.
Farid had recently broken the school's 20-year record for the 100-meter
event, with Hassan not far behind. Due to Hassan's recurring ankle injury,
Mr Tai submitted Farid's name as the finalist for the National Athletics
Championship. However, due to a mistake, he submitted Hassan's name instead.
It was too late to correct the error, and Mr Tai chose to groom Hassan for
the event instead of admitting his mistake to Farid.
When Farid found out that he was not a finalist, he was devastated. He was
not given any reasons for his exclusion, and rumors spread that he was
dropped due to disciplinary issues. Farid lost interest in athletics and
withdrew from his friends, causing his academic performance to suffer. When
he spoke to Mr Tai about his grievances, the teacher tried to avoid the
issue and only superficially consoled him, stating that Hassan was the
better choice.
In the end, Farid's disappointment was compounded by the fact that his
brother did not perform well in the National Finals. Mr Tai was not
reappointed as the athletics coach for the following year. Farid pursued a
different career path, but remained embittered by the missed opportunity to
showcase his athletic abilities.
In conclusion, Mr Tai's mistake cost Farid and the school team a potential
victory in the National Athletics Championship. It also resulted in a
breakdown of trust between the coach and his student. The importance of
transparent communication and accountability cannot be understated,
especially in competitive sports. |
