Malaysia’s football team disgraceful exit has realism, is the question, which needs explanation.
But before that, conceding 12 goals in 3 matches (5 goals to China, 5 goals to Uzbekistan and 2 goals to Iran), that’s how we fare in the AFC Asian Cup 2007.
And way before the final humiliation by Iran, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah has resigned, putting the blame on coach Norizan Bakar. FAM secretary general Ibrahim Saad resigned. The same goes to the SIL Khairy Jamaluddin, who apparently loves EPL outfit Manchester United more than Malaysia football. Subsequently, the coach is being sacked too.
The one who has the real guts to stay is none other than the president Sultan Ahmad Shah, vowed to carry out a massive "overhaul" of the beleaguered association and also conducts an inquiry on the national team’s performance.
Now, let’s forget about the cheap advice. Forget about what minister and deputy minister have to say.
What are the possible factors that might contribute to the dismal performance. Players lack of fighting spirit? Poor management? Lack of meritocracy (favoritism) in selection of players? Lack of government support?
But really, Malaysian football has sunk so low that fans would rather watch European football on television than turn up for our own national team.
With such deep-seated problems, it requires an overhaul of the whole machinery, and also public understanding. It’s a monumental task ahead and as average joe, we must keep our fingers crossed that taxpayers money will be well spent once again on world class training centres, sports science and etc.
Oh by the way, I strongly urge the politicians to get out of the sport and let the professionals run the show. Stick to what you do best, it’s as simple as the theory where oil and water just can’t mix.
Got it?
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training should start from the youth team. to get talented teenagers, just organize school matches, then to district, negeri and to nation, stage by stage to find out the best secondary school football team in malaysia.
from there we can have a lot talented players.
SK, I have been involved with the National and State (Selangor ) Football org, from early 60s to 1979. Those who glory days.
The Sultans resolve is like a broken record…..every time there is a crisis, they resort to Task Force that ends up with knee-jerk fire-fighting. There is a fire raging in the front of the house and they are having an emergency meeting at the back room on how to put out the fire. Damn, put out the fire (sack/resign all) and then find out (thru independent non-partisan professionals) the cause of the rot. Of course the rot is obvious…..politicians messing in sports for political mileage. I spit on these nincompoops.
Johnny, thats what we school coaches did in the 60s…and we discovered the likes of Arumugam, Soh Chin Aun,Santokh Singh, Chow Chee Keong, Yip Chee Kiong, Lee Fung Kee, Zainal Abidin, Mokhtar Dahari, Wong Hung Nung, Hung Meng and a host of others who represented the country or turned professional in Hong Kong. The graduated went thru the mill at MSSM level, Burley/Razak/President Cup, State Malaysia Cup and National.
erratum: those were glory days.
The problem in Malaysia is the management knows where the root of the problem, but no one is willing to take drastic action to revamp the whole bloody structure.
It’s their rice bowls at stake and it’s going to take forever in going through cycles of failure until someone who is willing to stand out among the rest and do the right thing.
Let’s remain optimistic.
Johnny, zorro,
isnt that what it’s practising now. district, state, national competitions. then a bunch of kids get selected, centralised training at bukit jalil sport school.
now, what’s the different?
Wat, Tootball again?
20 grown men, or is it 22 or 24, passing the ball here & there with no sense of purposes! U call that fun & sport?
Yak!
Now, punchball, that’s I call sport with balls!
Sorrry guys, let’s face it, Tootball will always be for the kiddies. Us grown-ups will always go for the balls that punch!
Now, ov’r 2 ya, u cn hv ur say!
kikherekikthere, what about the hitting-the-wall-with-a-ball sport? That game doesn’t sound too fun to me either but at least Malaysia has a world class player in it.
The structure is there.
Because politicians sphere of influence can be short (and their memories even shorter) in terms of time, they take on these positions to get results and in the process, want to look good – rubbing shoulders with football, social and real royalties.
As a result, they get sponsors to pump plenty of money in the game to create the illusion that Malaysian football "boleh".
Sadly, when the national team plays against its Asian peers, "tak boleh". Why ? Because the players had been given so much money & opportunities, they think that they are God’s gift to football. When the going got tough … they all shrink away.
The solution will be to nurture young players without the frills, build up basic skills and if they can stand head to head with their Asian peers at the U-19 level, only then start thinking about setting targets. Pointless to set targets of qualifying for Asian Cup or whatever when the basic core is not quite solid.
Short term, have more playing fields (not less) which are accessible for the youth. Futsal et al are not the real thing !!!
Dear President Of FAM,
I received your application to have a 3 goals advantage in all games and I am glad to inform you that it has been approved backdated to all matches played after 1st july 2007. That means you have beaten Iran 3-2 yesterday but unfortunately still failed to qualify for the quarter final because you have lost to China 4-5 and to Uzbekistan 3-5. Should you need further goal advantage when 3 is insufficient, maybe we can introduce a 24 handicap for you just like what golf is doing for their players. I am sure with that you will not only qualify but probably be the first Asian team to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Sign Dato Sepp Blatter
President Fifa
Zurich
19th July 2007
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