MFL to run Super League and Premier League
KOTA KINABALU: Joehari Ayub believes Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim's vision and passion for football will lead to a better future for Malaysian football.
The Crown Prince of Johor stunned the nation recently by confirming his resignation as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
But, that will not stop the man popularly known as TMJ from carrying out his role in wanting to see Malaysian football return to its glory days.
TMJ's appointment as the chairman of the Malaysian Football League (MFL) at the Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) congress on Sunday confirmed this.
The MFL, the new name of FMLLP under its current rebranding exercise, is responsible for running the show of the Super League and Premier League.
There will be an expansion of the Malaysian League to a five-tier competition within the 90 days of rebranding exercise, where it will include also the FAM Cup (division three), M-4 (division four) and M-5 (division three).
And TMJ hoped that by shifting his attention solely on the MFL, it would lead to improvement of the domestic league thus contribute to making the national team stronger and with quality.
Joehari, who is FAM vice president, believes it was a move that has many positives compared to negatives.
“In my opinion, it is a very positive move that TMJ has made (and his resignation) is not down to pressure. In fact, we are looking at a much bigger picture.
“He (TMJ) is shifting his attention more towards making sure the league - the Malaysian League - will get to greater heights and with better quality matches.
“We all know that when we have a league that is competitive and (with) more commercial value, eventually (it) will produce better national team.
“This is happening in J-League, K-League and so on. Even Singapore are doing so, changing their league S-League to Singapore Premier League,” he said yesterday.
The fact that a positive outcome has emerged from a recent meeting with LaLiga representatives has added weight to the claim.
“I'm very positive. I'm not defending him, but it is not fair not for me not to say something when I know something good is good to Malaysian football. Five divisions...it is every good with the M-4 and M-5.
“I know he is serious and put his full attention there to get all the resources...everybody, clubs will see their value increase and with a five-tier league, the quality will improve too.
“We are doing what people do in Spain, England, Korea and Japan. Now collaboration with LaLiga after meeting with (LaLiga) president...they agreed to consult and help.
“Once they put into place this La Liga structure...the league is going to be more competitive. With quality league, it will lead to quality national team.
“That's the bigger picture...it is all positive,” added Joehari who also said TMJ had put much efforts to bring in the sponsors, where the value is expected rise every year.
Joehari also explained TMJ was not running away from his responsibility when he stepped down as president as his track record in his one-year as FAM president spoke volumes, where he had brought positive changes to Malaysian football.
To this, Joehari hoped that TMJ could continue to contribute to the game in the country through MFL.
“We must remember he is only resigning from the post of FA of Malaysia and not from Football of Malaysia.
“He is shifting to another (platform) to make sure Malaysia football will achieve greater heights.
“We thanks him for his services. He have done so much for Malaysian football,” said Joehari who also thanked TMJ for showing his faith in him as the vice president of FAM.
Meanwhile, Joehari was all for TMJ's suggestion for current FAM secretary general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin as the new FAM president.
Joehari said Hamidin had a long service with the national football governing body and is most suitable candidate to be the main man at FAM.
The new president is set to be known at the 54th congress of FAM scheduled in July.