DISCREPANCIES IN NFA LINE-UP
Tunku Ismail questions awards’ list as no JDT players are nominated
AZLAN MUHAMMAD ZAIN azlanmz@hmetro.com.my
CHANGES are expected in the selection process of the National Football Awards (NFA) from next year. This was confirmed by Football Malaysia Limited Liability Partnership (FMLLP) CEO Kevin Ramalingam yesterday.
On Thursday, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim expressed his surprise that none of the JDT players was on the list of nominees for the NFA awards despite their team winning the Super League and Malaysia Cup this year.
“I want to expose a piece of information which shows that football in Malaysia is not evaluated through facts but instead emotions, hatred and jealousy,” Tunku Ismail had said.
“Not a single (JDT) player has been listed for this award, does it make sense? JDT have won nine trophies in the past four years including the Super League and Malaysia Cup this year.
Ramalingam said Tunku Ismail’s views on the NFA awards are pertinent, considering that the JDT team have done well to win titles this season.
“We will definitely take steps to improve the selection process.
“We previously thought the existing system would not lead to discrepancies.
“However, based on the results (of the voting this year), it’s hard not to say there is no discrepancies. There is something not logical,
“What we thought previously was relevant or fair might not turn out that way.
“We will sit down to plan again the selection system,” he said.
The present selection system for the NFA has been carried out by FMLLP since 2015.
For the preliminary round, representatives from the FAM, Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia, media and others will shortlist 10 players for each category before the final list is whittled down to three players.