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BEIJING: Chinese superstar Yao Ming has launched a
fierce defense of under siege national coach Jonas Kazlauskas,
calling him “a great man” and the best choice to lead the team
at next year’s Olympics.
Kazlauskas has come under heavy
criticism after a string of poor performances by his team in Europe
and at home, with many sports publications in China saying the
Lithuanian is bereft of ideas, motivation and leadership.
“I have heard a lot of people
speaking against him, but I am sure he is a great man, he unites the
team and of course he should stay and lead us at the Beijing
Olympics,” China Daily Thursday quoted Yao as saying.
The Houston Rockets center also
accused the Chinese press of being fickle in its support of
Kazlauskas, who was hired in 2005 to see China win a medal at the
Beijing Olympics.
“Some media are like grass atop
a wall swaying in the wind. When you win some games, they cheer for
you. But when you lose, they go to the other side,” Yao said.
Calls for Kazlauskas to quit have
grown since China’s recent loss in five consecutive games in
Europe—albeit without Yao, who was on his honeymoon and recovering
from injury.
The press also accused Kazlauskas
of placing too much faith in Yao to lead China to glory.
One of Yao’s key teammates,
former NBA player Wang Zhizhi, is similarly negative about the
team’s prospects.
“Problems are everywhere. We
are struggling [all over the court]. I cannot say I am optimistic
about the team’s future,” China Daily quoted him as saying.
Yao scored 25 and Wang and new
Milwaukee Bucks recruit Yi Jianlian played together for the first
time this year when the national team beat Australian domestic team
the Melbourne Tigers on Wednesday night 84-78 in Macau.
Yao top scored with 25 points and
Yi added another 20.
--AFP
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