Give ex-state players space in SAFA to restore football glory – ex-SSFA deputy president
KOTA KINABALU: Former state players should be given a place in the Sabah Football Association (SAFA) Committee.
Former Sabah State Footballers Association (SSFA) deputy president Azman Master said former Sabah players like Datuk James Wong, Datuk Hassan Sani and Matlan Marjan could contribute significantly to the development of football in the State if they were in the SAFA committee.
Azman said many individuals comprising government employees or government-linked companies (GLCs) in the SAFA committee could not contribute significantly in advancing the state football because of their busy schedule.
Hence, he hoped that those individuals who could not concentrate fully on the task of helping the development of football, would resign.
"It is not wrong for them to be in the association but I hope those who cannot give full attention to the development of football, would voluntarily resign.
"This is to give former state players space in the association to help bring back the greatness of Sabah football," Azman said yesterday.
In this regard, he hoped that the delegates or members involved in the up-coming election of the SAFA Congress on Aug 25, would discharge their duties responsibly so that the best leadership could be selected to restore football glory in Sabah.
SAFA became unstable after the resignation of its senior leaders including former president Tan Sri Musa Aman, deputy president Datuk Lawrence Gimbang and vicepresident Datuk Harun Ismail in May and June.
"Indeed, SAFA needs a president that is capable but it also needs former state players like Datuk James Wong, Datuk Hassan Sani and Matlan Marjan to be in the ranks of the committee.
"It is because of their background as former state and national players who have had better experience than those in the SAFA committee today that I feel they should be playing bigger roles.
"Therefore, if we want to develop better football for the future, we must give space to the former state players because they can give their views and advice to coaches and players," he said.
Azman said the former state players were always ready to support and assist SAFA any time.
Meanwhile, Azman, who was also a former player for the Sabah under-19 squad, congratulated Mohd Aiyyman Syah's reigning triumph and Johnny Domincius' President Cup team, for making it into the quarter-finals.
He also congratulated Jelius Ating's senior squad for making it into the Malaysia Cup this season.
"Achievements especially this year have shown what can be achieved by Sabah football if each team are fully committed to addressing the issues of their respective teams without interference of the SAFA committee," he said.
Azman said he had stepped down as manager of the under-19 squad in late June following the SAFA committee's interference which denied his proposal to drop seven players based on their performance and discipline.
"If the SAFA committee continues to intervene in terms of team management, it is hard for us to make advancements in football especially among young players in the junior squad, which is a backup of the state's future football," he said.