Chapter 316: Each Sovereign Maintains His Own Courtiers (1/2)
Chapter 316: Each Sovereign Maintains His Own Courtiers
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
In the small meeting room, everyone sat in silence.
”We withdrew from the match to defend Coach Gu against the injustice. Why did they treat Coach Gu unjustly?” Shuang Pang, who was the youngest among the athletes, broke the silence.
”Shuang Pang, don't tell tales! This is the flat management, which is not against Coach Gu deliberately,” said an old coach who was sitting next to the athletes.
”Is this the flat management? I've searched this term on the internet. Flat management is implemented to reduce the administrative levels. But after this flat management in our team, none of the high-level management staff is reduced; none of the executive coaches are reduced; the coaches of the men's team and the women's team are still there. Only Coach Gu is 'reduced.' Isn't it against Coach Gu deliberately?” Shuang Pang said indignantly.
”Even so, you shouldn't have withdrawn from the match. You should express your appeal rationally instead of taking this extreme action. Don't forget you are athletes of our country! You should attach most importance to the honor of our country,” the old coach continued to say.
”Coach Gu's contribution is greater than ours. What did he get out of it? An Irish promotion? What were they thinking? Kill the donkey the moment it leaves the millstone, right?” Anshan Wang, who usually remained silent, suddenly said.
Everyone in the meeting room dropped into silence again, for all of them knew Zhizhong Gu's contribution to the National Table Tennis Team very well. When considering contribution, none of them could compare with Zhizhong Gu.
”I also feel you are too impetuous,” Dai Li said. ”I know you are defending Coach Gu, and you hope Coach Gu can come back. However, have you ever thought about how your behavior will do harm to Coach Gu instead of helping him!”
Dai Li paused a bit, then he said, ”Someone doesn't want Coach Gu to go on coaching the national team, because he is competent and admired by all of us. But your withdrawal will make those people more afraid of Coach Gu; therefore, they will not dare to give any real power to Coach Gu. You think your collective withdrawal looks as if you are expressing your support for Coach Gu or defending him against the injustice, but in fact you are jeopardizing Coach Gu's future career.”
After Dai Li's reminder, all the athletes realized their rashness.
Just as Dai Li said, after this collective withdrawal, everyone knew Zhizhong Gu was enjoying immense popularity and support in the National Table Tennis Team, which would make the high-level management more afraid of him. They worried that they couldn't control the National Table Tennis Team. Someone thought Zhizhong Gu set up a small clique in the team to go against the high-level management.
In this circumstance, Zhizhong Gu wouldn't be allowed to do any substantive work for a while. Nobody would dare to put him in a position with real powers, so he might have to do some leisure work till his retirement.
Athletes like Anshan Wang who had been engaged in the sports industry for years knew this truth very well. Therefore, after Dai Li's reminder, reality suddenly dawned on them.
”Sorry, we are wrong! We are harming Coach Gu.” Anshan Wang lowered his head.
”Let me call Coach Gu now and tell him we didn't do it deliberately,” Shuang Pang said.
”Don't contact Coach Gu now!” Dai Li stopped Shuang Pang immediately, then he said, ”If you call Coach Gu now, it will be more difficult for him to get away from this issue.”
”Then what should we do now?” Shuang Pang asked.
”You should admit your mistake first!” Dai Li shook his head ruefully. ”I suggest we could undertake the responsibility of the withdrawal, and try our best to make a clean break with Coach Gu, which might be helpful for him.”
”We will definitely be punished, right?” Shuang Pang asked timidly.
”You will be punished in all likelihood.” Dai Li nodded, then he looked at other executive coaches in the meeting room, and said, ”I suggest we undertake the responsibility in the name of the National Table Tennis Team, and make an apology to the public. Let's face the consequence of this withdrawal together. What say you?”
”Coach Li, you didn't participate in this withdrawal, which was a decision made by us. We shall receive any possible punishments!” Pengfei Cui said courageously.
”Pengfei, what Coach Li means is that the law can't be enforced when everyone is an offender,” Anshan Wang said. He had now been restored to reason completely.
Dai Li nodded. ”Right, that's what I want to say. We admit the mistake and undertake the responsibility in the name of the national team. I hope this will mitigate the punishment to each individual. Moreover, if the team is to undertake the responsibility, normally the principal of the team would bear much of the blame. But now Coach Gu has been transferred, and we don't have a principal in the team; therefore, if we are lucky, we might be able to minimize the consequence of this issue.”
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It had been three days since the withdrawal. The National Table Tennis Team admitted its mistake and apologized to the public. It seemed the issue had been quieted down.