Danish attacks in the heat of Malaysia13.02.2005Can you imagine football idol Ronaldo is going for 15 days with youngsters to another country to show them how they can develop? Can you imagine tennis player Andy Roddick doing the same? Denmarks Superstar Peter Gade did it. For free and with all he can give.
While for the young Danish hopes the trip began on the 5th of September at airport Kastrup (Copenhagen), for Peter Gade it had already started nine months before. The 27-year old was not only "just" the coach, he was also the organizer for the whole event. "It was a lot of work. That’s why I have to start that early. Everything had to be perfect. The hotel, the shuttle-service, the drinking-water and the programmes with our Malaysian sparring-partners", the current European Champion explains. During the “Malaysian Open” some weeks before, Peter was able to observe all the local conditions. So everything seemed to be perfect and the adventure could begin …
Gade-Mania in Malaysia
One could see how popular Badminton in Malaysia is, when Peter Gade arrived at the airport in Kuala Lumpur. Everybody was looking and talking. They recognize him in a matter of seconds. But Peter was not coming for self-promotion. His job was to train 27 talented young Danish players – calling themselves “Team-Attack” - between 14-19 years in Malaysia (Petaling Jaya). "For the players it’s a big experience, because of the heat and the new situation here. And none of them ever been in the Far East", Gade explains.
Followed by a team of reporters from “The Star” – nations biggest English Newspaper – the team checked in the hotel in the morning. But there was not much time to rest, because the first practise session was already under way.
The first Test match against the Malaysians on Tuesday in the sports school Bukit Jalil ended 8-14 in favour of the locals. “The Malaysians are technical above our players. So its a really good thing and our players can learn a lot”, knew Gade. And as he said they developed quite well during the next days and fighting back two days later. “They are now a bit more used to the heat and to the Asian-style. With the results so far we can be very satisfied”, said coach and former world-class double shuttler Thomas Stavngaard.
Pushing to the limit
“Playing against the Malaysians means to have more and intensive rallies. They really try to play with you. In Denmark our goal is more to finish the rally as soon as possible. So there is a big difference between both nations”, spoke player Emil Vind from Svendborg, who adds: “It was the first time, I played against Peter Gade during a half-court practising in the morning. I was excited, after I realised who was standing behind the net. For us players it means a lot, that Peter plays against us. He also corrected us and gave tips after every mistake we did”.
European Junior Champion in doubles Mikkel Delbo: “We all practising together every Sunday with Peter. And it is the best training I can get. That’s why I am in Team Attack.”
So the days went on. Normally there was training twice a day. In the morning a lot of Footwork, multi-feeding and technical exercises and after lunch it was sparring-time against youth national-players of Malaysia in Bukit Kiara – the home of the badminton-players. Stars like Wong Choon Hann or Lee Chong Wei were practising here everyday under coach Misbun Sidek in the 18 court-hall. In the evening – after hard work and tired legs – there were always some ventures. Like shopping-tours, visiting the famous Twin-Towers or watching together DVDs.
“Every player progress during the two weeks. So it was enjoyable for us coaches to watch them play against each other on the last days. Every thing is worth”, told a pleased Peter Gade.
The final countdown
Looking in the faces of all players during the last practising in Malaysia, means also hard work. Everyone was giving the best he can give. “It was definitely the hardest training I ever had in my life. That’s for sure”, telling Mikkel Elbjørn after the last shuttle in Bukit Kiara was played or better after the last t-shirt, which was bathed in sweat, was changed. “That’s the maximum. We all are tired after this two weeks. I always said to me Keep on, otherwise you can’t hold on”, said Mia Sejr.
“I am absolutely satisfied. It was also an impressing experience for me. Everything went well. All the players gave their best. Some of them are just 13 or 14. That’s hard to stay 15 days away from home. And my biggest admiration to them, who did everything without complaining and always with a smile on their lips”, Gade explains.
On the 19th of September after having lunch the whole team went by bus to the airport in Kuala Lumpur. 14 days of new experiences, hard work and fun lying behind the players. Christopher Bruun points it out: “Yes, I am happy to go back to Denmark. After 15 days you miss your home, your friends. But I will definitely miss that here Malaysia, too. It was fantastic …”.
Gades passion
Observing Peter Gade during these 15 days, means to see a busy man. A man, who was giving all attention to the juniors. Always available, motivating the players, soothing them after defeats. The world number two was giving such a big intensity during the whole 15 days. “Where so ever you go, go with all your heart” is not just a motto for Peter. He lives it. It seems even, that he is giving more back than he ever got.
Facts about "Team-Attack":
The project “Team Attack” was founded by Peter Gade in the year 2001. The Dane saw that Denmark’s challenge especially to the Asian countries is going more and more down. With “Team Attack” he wants to prepare young talented players of Denmark for the coming life as a badminton-professional. Every Sunday a practising in Gentofte (Copenhagen) take place with all the players, who are members of the project.
Team-Attack Off court:
Danish Team-Spirit
Team-Spirit has a high priority in Denmark. One can see that every day. The players and coaches motivating each-other every minute. Singing in the bus on the way to the hall or building circles - which impressed the Malaysians - before the team-matches starts.
Malaysian friendliness
“I would say, there is no better place to go to a camp like this than Malaysia”, speaks Peter Gade. All the players were welcomed so friendly and helpful, that they could feel a bit like home. The salutation “Selamat Datang”, which means “Welcome”, you can see everywhere in Malaysia. What a feeling…
The land of the 1000 courts
In no other country in the world, beside Indonesia, badminton has a higher popularity than in Malaysia. So you can play badminton almost everywhere. Big badminton halls with more than 30 courts are not seldom. During a match-training in Kuala Lumpur there was a center with 32 Courts. Almost all courts were totally booked out at 8.00 o’clock in the morning on a Sunday.
Morten Frost and the other legends …
A t-shirt with a small Yonex-Logo on it reaches to get involved in conversations with external people about the badminton-world. “What you are doing here? Are you playing badminton?”, was the sentence the players and coaches (expect Peter Gade, because everybody knows him) heard almost every day. In Malaysia Denmark is famous for beer (Carlsberg), Vikings and badminton. Nothing else. Names like Morten Frost, Poul-Erik Høyer and of course Peter Gade are household names around Kuala Lumpur. Especially former legend Frost seems to have such a big popularity in Malaysia which is just unbelievable.
