PROMISES CHANGE
Vows to make FAS financially independent if elected president
DATUK Seri Subahan Kamal is set to become the first non-royalty or nonMenteri Besar since 2000 to helm the FA of Selangor (FAS). FAS will hold their extraordinary general meeting (EGM) in Shah Alam today to elect a new president and a deputy president along with four vice-presidents and 12 executive committee members. A total of 95 affiliates will be voting.
Former state executive councillor Datuk Aini Taib was the last nonroyalty or non-Menteri Besar to helm FAS — from 1996 to June, 2000.
On what would be his vision if given the mandate to be the new FAS president, Subahan said the first thing will be to introduce a good module on every aspect of administration and other related matters.
“We will try to convince sponsors by promoting our product to put FAS on the right track financially. The goal will be to make FAS financially independent with a healthy bank account.
“It is my belief that a president must run a sports association like a business organisation. He must always think out-of-thebox and give new ideas to improve things.
“We must also pick up the finer points from successful local and overseas clubs as a step to improve further,” said Subahan.
Under FAS statutes, a candidate can only stand for the top post if he receives 38 out of 95 nominations from affiliates.
However, it is uncertain whether the 52-year-old is the only candidate for the post. FAS have been tightlipped over candidates due to the ongoing feud with the state government over funding.
“We will not disclose the candidates for the EGM. It will be enclosed in the press kit tomorrow (today),” said FAS secretary Rosman Mohd Ibrahim.
Subahan, an accountant by profession, is regarded as the most suitable person to helm FAS.
The former Templer state assemblyman was also the main man behind the scenes in defending FAS from efforts to unconstitutionally remove secretary Rosman and treasurer S. Sivasundaram by former president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali last year.
He also helped out in getting funds into FAS to manage the various football teams this year.
Despite issues over budget prior to the current season, Selangor are doing respectably in the Super League under coach P. Maniam.
Subahan was also the assistant manager when Selangor won a treble (Premier League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup) in 2015. Zainal Abidin Hassan and Fandi — to replace Wanderley in a meeting late on Tuesday.
While Azraai and Zainal — both Malaysia Cup-winning coaches — are receptive to the idea of coaching KL after being approached, the situation with Fandi is far more complicated.
A city legend in his playing days after leading KL to three Malaysia Cup and two League Cup titles in the 1980s, Singaporean Fandi would be a popular choice with KL fans to coach the side.
However, Fandi is currently on a three-year contract with the FA of Singapore and has been tasked to win gold for Singapore’s Under-22 side at the 2019 and 2021 Sea Games.
A source said KLFA have only made contact with Fandi through an intermediary with a decision on KL’s next coach expected to be made early next week during an executive committee meeting.
Another option for KL, who have slumped to sixth in the Premier League standings following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Police in Selayang, is to promote current assistant coach Rusdi Suparman and appoint Syed Yazid Syed Omar to the vacant team manager’s post.
Rusdi and Syed Yazid worked in tandem to lead KL to the Sultan’s Gold Cup semi-finals late last year and are far more familiar to the players having also been involved in KL’s 2016 Premier League campaign under Ismail Zakaria.
For tomorrow’s trip to Kuala Terengganu, Rusdi will again coach the team from the bench as KL look to end a run of four matches without a win in all competitions.