FAM GET BACKING FROM KHAIRY
Sports Minister urges critics to trust the national body in their quest to make Malaysian football great again
ZULFAIZAN MANSOR zulfaizan@bh.com.my
SPORTS Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has urged Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) office bearers to ignore “negative comments” that were recently thrown at them. SAFEE Sali is not ready to quit international football and has put himself at the disposal of the national team to overcome their shortage of strikers.
After national coach Nelo Vingada complained of not having enough forwards ahead of a 2-0 defeat to Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifier on Oct 10, PKNS striker Safee said he is eager to resume playing for the country.
The last of Safee’s 79 appearances for Malaysia came in a 0-0 draw with the Philippines in a March friendly in Manila in Ong Kim Swee’s last game in charge of the national team.
Vingada, who has not considered Safee during his five-match winless run since being appointed in June, fielded a side without a recognised striker against
While placing his trust in FAM president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Khairy explained that all parties must adopt a more positive approach by supporting the national body in their quest to make Malaysian football great again.
“We must have a positive mindset. It’s sad to see the baseless Malaysian football polemics. Hong Kong following injuries to Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Shahrel Fikri Fauzi and Darren Lok.
“I don’t feel slighted in not being called up because I have just recovered from injury so I was not expecting to return to the national team yet,” said Safee, 33, who returned to action in early September from a shoulder injury.
“It is true we are short of strikers with so many imports playing as forwards in the league. But I have not closed the door on the national team as I still want to pull on the national jersey. If I am called up again I will do my best.”
With Malaysia likely to face North Korea twice next month in Group B qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup, Safee said he hopes to get the call to add to his 23
“Focusing on jokes and statements that aim to bring down an organisation is not something you see in a developed nation.
“I believe in Tunku Ismail’s magical touch, because we all saw what he did with JDT (Johor Darul Ta’azim) and I am certain he will be able to do the same with the national team,” said Khairy in a statement yesterday.
FAM came under heavy criticism following the national squad’s 2-0 defeat to Hong Kong last week in an Asia Cup qualifier. Malaysia have also dropped to No 170 on the Fifa world rankings.
In the statement, Khairy also said that Malaysian football will only improve through comprehensive development.
According to Khairy, steps are already taken by FAM under the new leadership.
“Some of the quick successes include the Under-22 side qualifying for the AFC Under-23 Championships and bagging the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games silver medal. The Under-19 squad have also done well to come in second in the AFF international goals.
“I am always ready to be called up and I hope to play well and build quickly on the understanding with other players,” said Safee, who made his international debut in 2005 with his five goals firing Malaysia to the 2010 AFF Cup title.
Ahead of his club’s last Super League match against Felda United on Oct 28, Safee hopes to finish on a high as he awaits a decision by PKNS on whether to retain his services for another year.
“I have not decided on my future as I am still waiting for PKNS to decide whether to extend my contract or not,” said Safee, who has scored four goals in the Super League this season. “We’ve not held talks yet but I was told informally that my services are still needed.” Devinder Singh Under-19 Championships.
“The new generation of players are already under the care of the National Football Development Programme (NFDP). So far, the NFDP have trained 22,575 players between the ages of seven and 17, through 1,025 coaches at 126 centres throughout the country.
“Even if our ranking has dropped, we must look at medium to long term goals. Changes do not happen overnight,” added Khairy.