Get rid of the dole mentality! (The Malay Mail)

AS long as State FAs depend on handouts from the FA of Malaysia to run
their associations, Malaysian soccer is going to take a long time to reach
even Asian standards.
It was typical of the State FAs to declare they were eagerly awaiting
Feb 8 when FAM will announce the grant for the new season.
They hope the present RM750,000 will be increased to more than RM1
million as the national body have secured a RM175 million five-year
sponsorship deal with Dunhill.
It is fine for FAM to assist their affiliates but it is not fine for the
State FAs to depend solely on the grant to plan their season.
The grant was RM300,000 in the late 80s during the semi-professional
stage but has over the years reached RM750,000.
Some State FAs have spent the money wisely but many have wasted it on
luxuries and unnecessary things.
The grant also includes money for development but many States have
either neglected the area or have just organised age-group tournaments or
paid the expenses of youth teams to national tournaments and called it
development.
It is about time FAM thought about making State FAs stand on their own
feet and stop giving them big handouts.
The professional concept has to enforced and there is no room for
charity.
Let the State FAs who have strong foundations and professional setups
play in the main league while the inefficient and wasteful ones play in an
amateur league until they are ready to move up.
Unless and until State FAs are prepared to run their association like a
business venture, they should stay out of professional soccer.
FAM can still help out the States, but with lesser amounts to teams who
are not working towards professionalism.
FAM should also consider giving grants, if they insist on giving it,
based on the team's previous season's finishing in the League.
At least this way, the grant will be like a reward for reaching a
certain standard.
FAM would be spending the money better by being directly involved at the
schools level where a solid foundation can be laid for the future.
Currently, State FAs are expected to work with their State School Sports
Council, but hardly any concrete work is done.
Many of their involvments stop at giving small grants to the Sports
Council.
The problems states had when they got RM700,000 were no different from
when they got RM300,000.
And it will not be any different when RM1 million or even more is doled
out.
Malaysia is the envy of many a country, including Australia who came so
close to qualifying for the World Cup this year.
They too have a professional league but their clubs have to fend for
themselves.
Most Australian players in their National League are paid much less than
in Malaysia and yet, they have a better national team.
The underlying factor is a professional approach at all levels, emphasis
on development and having a common goal and not having individual agendas.
We can only hope at least this year, with the prevailing economic
situation, the State FAs will spend the grant prudently.
                            (END)