AZRAAI: NO ‘HIDDEN HAND’ PLEASE
Former Kedah coach hopes no one will hinder Cheng Hoe
RODLY FADLY sukanteam@nstp.com.my
FORMER Kedah coach, Azraai Khor Abdullah hopes there is no “hidden hand” that hinders new national coach Tan Cheng Hoe from doing his job and getting Malaysian football back on the right track.
Azraai yesterday lauded the statement by FAM president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who gave an assurance that Cheng Hoe will be given a free hand to chart the national’s team’s course.
“It is a very positive statement from FAM president Tunku Ismail and equally good that Cheng Hoe be given the freedom to shape the national team according to how he sees fit.
“In fact, this (freedom) is what’s needed by each and every coach that is appointed. Complete faith, belief and trust must be given, so that he can have the chance to do a good job.
“This is because in the end, whatever the results achieved, be it success or failure, the person who’s responsible is ultimately the coach.
“It will be unfair for a coach to be vilified or punished when a team fail if he is not given the freedom to form a team that he wants and needs to challenge for honours.
“I sincerely hope that with Tunku Ismail’s statement, there will be no ‘hidden hand’ that prevents Cheng Hoe from doing his job. If not, then just appoint anyone to the post as our footballing fortunes will not change for the better,” stressed Azraai.
Azraai believes Cheng Hoe is mature and experienced enough to choose the right players and make the right calls and decisions.
“He (Cheng Hoe) has been involved in Malaysian football for a long time, and he was also assistant coach to not just Nelo Vingada but also Datuk K. Rajagobal, and he was also Kedah’s coach, so he knows the players quite well.
“I am confident he knows how to evaluate and make informed decisions. So it would be unwise for me to try to tell him who to pick and who to drop.
"The question of new or existing players is not an issue because what’s important is that the players selected are relevant to the team’s cause and are part of his plans for the team.
“If it is true that there are players who are big headed and arrogant in the national squad as claimed by Tunku Ismail, then such players are the ones that need to be dropped early on by Cheng Hoe because it can be a virus for the team.
“What I can say is choose players who are truly determined and bent on doing their very best for the country even though they might not be star players, because a player’s status is not a guarantee for success.
“I believe in Chen Hoe’s experience as a coach. He is the right choice. We have tried foreign coaches such as Nelo Vingada but failed, so there’s nothing wrong in giving a local coach the chance to lead the national team,” said Azraai.