Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who believes it’s time for a transition within the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), has boldly declared that he want to see somebody outdoors of the sports activities administration world helming Malaysian football, particularly candidates from the company sector.
KJ was quoted by eNM final week to have mentioned that “they (the company boys) have a dedication to administration, governance and administration.”
I don’t know what century that was in, however whereas we’re at it, why don’t we additionally discover the opportunity of having individuals outdoors of the political world to helm this nation, as non-politicians have a dedication to honesty, meritocracy and sincerity.
Still, whether or not warranted or not, KJ’s concept is value pursuing, if solely to a level.
KJ, who has had an inside take a look at the administration of FAM as a deputy president, is evidently talking about a presidential candidate who won’t be performing on a full time foundation, in contrast to the present president, Hamidin Amin, or FIFA president Gianni Infantino whose whole pay bundle is documented to be value greater than US$4.5 million (RM21.3 million).
Yes, with the speedy evolution of football and the trade, it has develop into immensely crucial for the skilled sport to be managed on a full time foundation, which is unattainable for a company captain.
Nevertheless, the thought can work, however solely if there’s a symbiotic relationship between company governance and precise football administration. Meaning, if we’re going to usher in a company determine, a relative “kaki bangku” (football misfit) as president, the equation will want a highly effective general-secretary who’s so deeply immersed in football DNA, that he may have the whole lot at his fingertips, apart from when Malaysia will make it to the World Cup finals.
Two names come speeding to thoughts who match this calibre, and may make this symbiotic relationship work like a appeal. One is Windsor Paul John, who’s the present basic secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and clearly isn’t going to surrender his Asian job for FAM, which he was a a part of within the ‘80s.
The different is Alex Soosay, Windsor’s predecessor at AFC. Alex has been via the entire gamut of the football ecosystem — as a former worldwide, coach, referee, administrator, FIFA match commissioner, FIFA basic coordinator and advisor to the UAE Football Association. One can’t be any extra immersed in football DNA than that.
This will not be a testimonial for any candidate, it’s about being away from our ideas of football administration and management. To put it in perspective, there are basically two faculties of thought right here.
One, to have on the helm, a fulltime president who has had a football upbringing, with a good understanding of the sport, its guidelines, its insurance policies and the calls for of the trade, one who additionally doubles up as a basic secretary, and importantly somebody with a good rapport with FIFA, and its member associations.
This president wouldn’t need a Windsor or an Alex-type mannequin as the final secretary, for he is aware of he can be overshadowed and outplayed in all departments, by both of them.
A fulltime and hands-on president will need whole management, like your Hamidin and Infantino-types, each of whom additionally operate as “overlapping” basic secretaries.
It is sort of evident that present FAM basic secretary Noor Azman Rahman doesn’t benefit from the privilege of energy that comes with authority over proceedings, like Kwok Kin Keng, Peter Velappan and Paul Mony Samuel, did earlier than him.
These three football statesmen who’ve since handed on, put the phrase basic in general-secretary.
And there’s the opposite choice – company governance via a captain of an trade. This presidential-type, with little or no football DNA, will most probably run FAM like a firm, with an administrative construction that might comprise a chief govt officer, basic supervisor, chief working officer and a chief monetary officer.
I’m certain Key Performance Indices (KPI) can be put in place, collectively with monetary accountability, lofty targets can be set, and even employment contracts reviewed and revised.
All that’s nicely and good, however with out a sturdy and thoroughbred football man on the helm of operations who’s empowered with policy-making selections, it will likely be an affiliation that might have monetary and structural stability, however nonetheless with none vital football success.
But regardless of the choice that’s most popular, two parts want dire consideration — grassroots growth and the Malaysian Football League (MFL).
With the training ecosystem having all however killed the tradition and development of sports activities in faculties, no due to clueless ministers over the a long time, the onus of growth, it will appear, falls squarely on the seemingly reluctant shoulders of the State FAs, and the skilled golf equipment within the MFL.
In a skilled structure, each membership within the MFL, particularly within the Malaysian Super League, ought to every have a football academy producing gamers to satisfy each their short- and long-term calls for.
Question is, do we have now such a skilled structure?
But given the excruciating circumstances which have pressured the nationwide physique to show to heritage and naturalised gamers, whoever helms Malaysian football ought to look to establishing academies in each state.
If we don’t have a regular provide of fine gamers, and if our football league retains being a humiliation to our nation, then it doesn’t matter who the president of FAM is, as a result of it will solely imply that we’re nonetheless parked at our football cul-de-sac.
The harsh actuality is that nobody cares about how nice an administrator a president is. All they need to see is the game attaining noteworthy worldwide success underneath his rule. In football, success will not be in regards to the Sea Games gold, or the AFF title – not when we have now been to the Olympics, and gained an Asian Games bronze.
To those that need the FAM scorching seat, success within the Malaysian football context, is to make it to a different Olympics, one other Asian Games podium, and extra importantly, an unprecedented look on the FIFA World Cup finals.
Ada Berani?
Peter Velappan(left) and Paul Mony Samuel.
The views expressed are these of the author and don’t essentially replicate these of eNM.
