‘STOP CRITICISING HARIMAU MALAYA’

Sathianathan urges parties to give Vingada and his men their full support

MALAYSIAN Football Coaches Association (MFCA) president B. Sathianathan has urged the concerned parties to stop criticising the national team for failing to meet the target in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

Sathianathan, who coached Malaysia between 2007-2009, wants them to support national coach Nelo Vingada and his charges as he is worried that the dark episode that haunted him and his team in 2007 could repeat itself.

“I had a bad experience in 2007. The players were criticised after losing a game at home in the Asian Cup and most of them ended up not wanting to put on the national jersey again.

“I was then appointed to take over the team. I had to persuade these players to stay on. A similar scenario could happen again to Vingada’s squad and if it does, then it would be difficult to rebuild the team in the near future.

“I am urging the fans not to be so angry. We must instead give them our support apart from hoping that grassroots development programmes will produce welcome results in the next two or three years,” he said.

Sathianathan said Vingada should be given the time and opportunity to shape a team in his very own way as the Portuguese coach was only appointed in May.

He added that it is unfair to call for Vingada’s resignation at this stage as his team were in the same group as North Korea and Lebanon who are among the top 20 teams in Asia.

“We are still at AFF Cup level. The win in 2010 is the only achievement we can boast about but we are not as consistent as Thailand.

“Is it fair to hope for wins against teams in Asia’s top 20 bracket? How can we demand for his resignation?

“Even if Jose Mourinho was the national coach, the team wouldn’t have beaten North Korea and Lebanon.

“So to be fair, we must give him more time and wait till the AFF Cup next year to see if Vingada can turn things around for the better,” Sathianathan added.

I am urging the fans not to be so angry. We must instead give them our support apart from hoping that grassroots development programmes will produce welcome results in the next two or three years,”

B. SATHIANATHAN Malaysian Football Coaches Association president

B. Sathianathan recalled his bad experience in 2007 when his players were criticised after losing a game in the Asian Cup which made some of them refuse to don the national jersey again.