Ban must be long enough to be effective (The Malay Mail)

IN addition to economic factors, the doing away with foreign players in
the M-League next year was also to give more local players the chance to
make a name for themselves.
 But that purpose will not be fulfilled if the ban is lifted after one or
two seasons.
 Three days after the decision was made at the FA of Malaysia (FAM)
Council meeting on Sunday, the Terengganu FA were already talking about
reemploying their foreign players when the League doors are open again to
them.
 Terengganu FA secretary Abdullah Salleh was quoted as saying the ban was
just temporary. And once it is lifted, they will resign their three
foreigner players - Jean Nyima (Cameroon), Seidu Issifu (Ghana) and Samuel
Chebli (Liberia).
 Abdullah must be under the impression the ban will be short-lived.
 If that is the case, then all talk about local talents being discovered
or getting the opportunity to develop while the foreigners are away is
idle.
 New talent cannot be moulded in a year or two.
 If the ban on foreigners is to contribute to the discovery and
development of more local talents, it has to last between three to five
years.
 Anything less than that will not help the cause of uplifting the
standard of the local players.
 We could be looking at a situation where even before the local players
can settle down and make their mark, their positions will already be
assumed by foreigners.
 Appropriately, Terengganu were among the State FAs who did not question
FAM's move on the foreign players at the Council meeting.
 Even when they were asked to make a stand on the issue by FAM president
Sultan Ahmad Shah.
 Arguments may persist on the pros and cons of the action FAM have taken.
But their decision stands as no objections were made from the very people
who possess the right to do so.
 For the time being, the State FAs should turn to their local material
and help build a wider talent base for the national team instead of
thinking about how soon the ban on foreign players will be lifted.
                              (END)