Club soccer still crucial (The Malay Mail)

THE FA of Malaysia will not allow club soccer to disintegrate. Even though
it is largely amateur, it is crucial for the development of the game in
the country.
It is for this reason that FAM are persisting with the national amateur
league even though it lacks publicity and fan support.
FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah Shah Sultan Ahmad Shah said for the
national amateur league to gain more support, State FAs should upgrade
their own leagues.
"There is certainly a urgent need for a facelift in local State leagues.
They have to be more competitive," said Tengku Abdullah.
"Just because we have gone professional in the M-League, we must not
neglect the grassroots.
"Our future is still with them. With competitive and well organised
local leagues, we will see better quality matches. That in turn means
better teams playing in the FAM Cup.
"The FAM Cup should serve as a feeder tournament to the M-League
besides. There is also the Reserve League which is for the younger
players.
"The FAM Cup is the transit point from the Reserve League to the Premier
League. That's how important it is."
Indeed, the FAM Cup, which has a history dating back to 1952. Until
1974, it catered for State teams. Eventually it was contested by club and
district sides.
The tournament then received wide media coverage because of the presence
of teams like UMNO, Kuantan FA, Kilat Club Kelantan, PKNS, NS Indians,
Hong Chin, UMBC, Penang Port Commission, City Hall SC, Cheq Point, Sultan
Sulaiman Club, UMBC, Kuantan FA, Penang Development Corporation and KIA to
name just a few.
Besides, these teams boasted of some of the top national players. Some
matches were as good as Malaysia Cup clashes.
In 1993, the concept of the FAM Cup changed. From a knockout tournament
it became a national league for clubs.
Subsidies were given to clubs by FAM as the national body wanted club
soccer to flourish and become a reservoir of talent.
However, the desire was not realised. The tournament became a pasture
for older players from the M-League and for has-beens.
But the trend is slowly but surely changing as more corporate teams are
taking the game seriously.
There are more younger players and the clubs themselves have become more
professional.
The FAM Cup is also seeing better known coaches. That augurs well for
the game and the coaching fraternity.
However, the FAM Cup can still be more glamorous and it is indeed sad
that States like Selangor and Sarawak are not represented.
Selangor especially have one of the better organised local Leagues.
Their league champions are quite wealthy and yet they chosen not to enter.
FAM provide RM25,000 to all teams in the first round and another
RM25,000 for those who qualify for the second round.
FAM can only assist to a certain extent. There should be sacrifices and
contribution from the State FAs and their clubs if we want to see soccer
improve.
There is a strong indication this year's FAM Cup will see better quality
performances.
Even the number of foreign players has risen.