---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: "Arshad Tan" <arshadtan@gmail.com>
Date: Mar 2, 2012 7:29 PM
Subject: A way forward to improve Malaysian Standard of Football.
To: "THE STAR @ YOUR OPINION" <editor@thestar.com.my>
I am an ardent fan of Malaysian football all the while, though i am also following EPL fanatically, with MU as my favourite club and lately, Cardiff City and QPR. Frankly, I am adamantly agreed with the recent Tun Dr Mahathir's statement in the STAR at the eve of Malaysia vs Japan Olympic qualifying game that "M'sia can be Asia's best." Tun was correct to point that "our sportmen were small sized before but we are now capable matching foreign athletes, especially our footballers who are of the same size as the Japanese." But, if we look at the next day results, 4-0 defeat of Harimau Malaya to Japanese in the Asian Zone Olympic Qualifier and previously, our National Team by the Australians. I think there are "something obviously missing." in our game.
From the said matches, it was obvious that the players tried to give their very best to make every Malaysian proud of. But, their current "skills and game plan" were not good enough to produce a more encouraging results. They were obviously out-played by the better teams. So, there are of course more learning to be done. So, my question is "what is next"? Are we going to continue to face defeat after defeat when we meet the Asian giants, in the name of "learning"? Of course, champion is not created overnight. Every team has to endure "some bad experience" before maturing to be a champion. I dont deny that. Nevertheless, how long more do we have to wait to reach that level - 5, 10, or 15 years? I don't think Malaysia fans can wait that long, anymore.
I had humbly suggested to the Sport Minister through my email sent to 10questions@thestar.com.my late last year. Unfortunately, it was not one of the chosen questions to be responded to. Again, I would like to suggest that "it is about time for FAM to hire a calibre foreign coach" to spearhead the mission. Hiring foreign coach(es) is not meant to deny the capability of local coaches like Datuk Rajagopal and OKS. Both of them have definitely done the good to Malaysian football by turning the Malaysian team as the best team in SEA region. Their immense contribution and commitment are undeniably "unthinkable." These coaches have instilled fear to the other teams in SEA whenever they meet. My salute to both of them! However, when our team met the Asian best, we were not up to the mark and flopped. It was obvious that we can't raise our game to the next level to match these team. Isn't it obvious (again), our football lack of "something." That "something," in my view, is "foreign coach."
Some people would question back "what good will foreign coach bring" to lift up our football standard as previously they have failed? - the like of Bratislav Bisky, Dr Venglos, etc (to name a few). In my view, during those time, players were not ready for foreign regime of coaching, mentally and phsically. But, now our players are "well exposed" as the result of stints with foreign clubs and friendly games with good teams, to name a few. Of course, the players, will be ready with foreogn coach. See what is happening to our dear Safi Sali at Pelita Jaya. He is being trained for sure by a foreign coach and has proved to be able to adopt and adapt there well enough. Everybody knows that this player - the proud of every Malaysia nowadays, is the team captain and has stamped his mark there remarkably! Isn't that a proof that Malaysian players are ready to be trained by foreign coach.
Hiring foreign coach will ignite a different dimension of football to our national players. I believe, foreign coach can do the following "wonders" -
1. Equipped with their international exposures and ve trained some multi-national players, he can bring wealth of experience and knowledge on "what are best" to freshen up and enliven our football game,
2. Impart technical aspect of the game to turn our players (and also to local coaches) to be more versatile and play a "different dimension of football"; thus, playing a better variation of football,
3. Our players can be toughened up even better, physically and technically,
Of course, it will be costly to hire a credible foreign coach and the investment will not guarantee a good return, in terms of winning games. But, FAM can weigh the possibility to have a sponsor of wealthy corporate bodies. If these companies like Petronas, MAS (to name a few) invest with foreign team, I am very positive, they will do the same to uplift Malaysian's football standard. The authorities have to be positive because "negative thinking will defeat us before trying." Whereas, positive thinking can ultimately produce "unthinkable" result at the end of day.
This is a bit on the Law of Positive Thinking. Positive thinking will always result in positive attitude, which in turn, helps us to cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into our life, and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If we adopt it as a way of life, it will bring constructive changes into our life, and makes us happier, brighter and more successful. With a positive attitude, we can see the bright side of life, become more optimistic and expect the best to happen. It is certainly a state of mind that is well worth developing and strengthening" The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible, and achieves the impossible (by a famous quote says). Winston Churchill had once said "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
So, in short everybody has to be positive all the time, to achieve the impossible. So do Sport Minister, FAM, coaches, players and staff. Only then, we can achieve success.
Arshad Tan
(Pseudonym : Adeeb Rayyan)
25, Jln PU 10/3A, Taman Puchong Utama, 47140 Puchong Selangor
019 280 2166
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