Do it For All Malaysians

Tunku Ismail must dig deep to tackle five major issues to save our football

IT’S now or never! The arrival of Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim marks a new chapter in Malaysia’s bid to revive the dwindling standard of the game.

The million-dollar question is can Tunku Ismail undo the wrongs and fix the rot in the system which has led to the downfall of the sport for more than 30 years?

Starsport’s ERIC SAMUEL feels that it’s a tall order for a young man ... UNLESS he can dig deep to tackle these FIVE major issues.

1. WEED-OUT THE DEAD WOODS

THE state affiliates pose the biggest challenge!

Where do you start?

How do you go into someone else’s territory and tell them what to do? Or that they have all the wrong people holding key positions and in the working committees.

There are other questions too. How active are the affiliates? Do they have the funds to organise a state league in the first place?

What are their development plans – academies, facilities, coaching education, sports science and other aspects? So many questions have been left unanswered during the previous administrations.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the affiliates are the main culprits for the decline of Malaysia’s footballing standard.

2. NO “YES-MAN” MENTALITY

TIME to speak up your mind!

Everyone – especially the affiliates and council members – has to pull their weight and their resources. It is teamwork. Stand up for your right and voice out what needs to be said without fear or favour. Malaysian football would not be where it is if only someone had the guts to open his gab and say it like it is. FAM need more of such people.

Tunku Ismail can’t do it alone. He needs his team to be on the same wavelength. Malaysian foot- ball needs everyone to be pulling in the same direction. There’s no place for glory-seekers.

3. YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

YOUTH development is the way to the future. But how many are willing to invest on the young ones?

Most of the affiliates are in the red and have their priorities all wrong. Big money is spent on buying foreign players in the domestic league.

Who do you blame? The FAM of old do not have any plans to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Malaysian football has been the laughing stock for far too long. It’s time to change that. Invest in our youths. They are our future. Period.

4. NATIONAL TEAM

RANKING is important. We are World No. 161. That’s not where we belong.

We must aim to be in the top 100. Of course, this is easier said than done, but concerted efforts and plans must be put in place to work towards this goal.

And often this question is raised ... where are our strikers for the national team?

None of our local players can make it into the starting XI of our neighbouring countries, what more in Asia or Europe.

Bringing in foreigners is not the answer. In fact, it has led to a dearth of local strikers. Change that and we just may find our modern version of Super Mokh!

5. WALK THE TALK

FOOTBALL fans have endured failures after failures. There has not been much to shout about when it comes to the national team – except for mediocre achievements at the regional SEA Games and AFF Championship.

Even then the media and public celebrated as if we had won the World Cup! It’s won’t be easy to clean up the 30-year mess. But that’s exactly what Tunku Ismail has to do. He has to be brave, bold and ruthless.

And he also has to be wary of those who are jumping on the bandwagon for selfish motives. Many see Tunku Ismail as the one who can save Malaysian football. Now his time has come.

Malaysian football fans have waited 30 long years. Hopefully, when Tunku Ismail rings in the changes, we will slowly but surely see a better future taking shape.

More importantly, Tunku Ismail must realise that what is ahead of him is a perilous and thankless job.

Do it well, and he will be raised on a pedestal. Fail, and he will be lambasted – even by the ones who proclaim to support him.

So, it’s important Tunku, that you have patience and stamina in abundance. A Herculean task awaits you.

All the best, Tunku!