FMT
Tony Mariadass
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) must be
ready to meet different challenges if they hope to realign the M-League, their
professional League of 26 years’ standing.
Applications for licences to compete in the
M-League’s 2021 competition must be filed by today, while there is a deadline
of Sept 30 for participating teams to be turned into football clubs, and not
managed by state football associations.
It is mandatory for states and clubs to privatise
their teams and be licensed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
There will be no extensions to the deadlines and FAM
is assisting teams that are facing problems with the transition.
FAM general secretary Stuart Ramalingam said that
while problems were expected closer to the deadlines, decisions will be made in
the best interest of football.
While it has not been smooth going for the state
FAS, most of them have been cooperative during the process, said Ramalingam.
The move will change the landscape of Malaysian
football and FAM is bracing itself to play a bigger “educational and
empowering” role to ensure the stability of the structure and to evolve
further.
Ramalingam said: “The FA to FC is a journey, not a
destination and we have only taken the first step.”
It is a giant, long overdue leap and Hamidin Mohd
Amin, president of FAM and Malaysian Football League (MFL), cautioned:
“The days of handling things with kid gloves are over. Next year, we will go by the book. Teams have to be mindful as MFL will not be lenient anymore.”
Changing the mindset of present officials overnight
is not going to be easy despite Malaysian football having gone professional
almost three decades ago.
There is strong indication that many officials in
the state FAs are going to jump across to the FCs. FAM remains firm that
officials cannot be in both bodies.
The exodus to FCs would mean new state FA officials
will emerge and this could be good and bad.
Good, because a younger set of officials could
emerge. Whether it is attractive for ‘new blood’ is debatable because their
jobs are not glamorous as they would be confined to grassroots development and
state leagues.
Bad, because educating new state FA officials on the
workings of FAM and waiting for them to work efficiently could take time.
The attraction has always been that managing the
professional teams is where the money is.
Whether the mindset of state FA officials who move
to FCs will change is anybody’s guess.
FAM is also concerned about the appointments of
clubs’ CEOs because a great deal of success will hinge on their calibre and
ability to chart a professional course.
Then again, several outfits may not be able to form
a company to manage their teams and may not have the means to become a FC.
They could end up in the amateur M3 League. Those
who could be affected include Felda and UiTM in the Super League and UKM in the
Premier League.
There could also be teams who do not qualify for the
licence.
If these situations occur, the number of teams in
the Super League could be reduced or teams could be promoted from Premier
League to keep the 12-team format.
That, in turn, might see fewer teams in the
second-tier league which presently also has 12 teams.
FAM and MFL look set to have their hands full when
both the deadlines expire, making the transitions a tedious process.
Tony Mariadass Column Sept 12
FA of Malaysia need to remain steadfast in transition to FCs
Changing the landscape of Malaysian football is going to be tedious process
THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) must be ever ready to meet
different types of challenges if they hope to finally put things right in their
26-year-old professional League.
The deadline for applications for licences to compete in the 2021
M-league was on Aug 31, and the final date for financial details is Sept 15
while the deadline for privatisation of teams to be managed by Football Club
(FC) and not State Football Associations (FA), is on Sept 30.
It is now mandatory that states and clubs must privatise their teams and
be licensed by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
FAM who has been communicating with State FAs for a while now, are
determined not to alter the deadlines. The national body is also assisting
teams who are facing problems with the transition and is aware of the problems
they are facing.
FAM general secretary Stuart Michael Ramalingam, however, said that
it was not FAM's intention to look to fail them, but
will instead work to help them resolve their issues immediately with a
long-term plan in place.
Ramalingam admitted: “We expect to face a few ‘problems’ as we get
closer to the deadline but we will deal with it and ensure the decisions made
are in the best interest of football.”
While some opposition was expected from State FAs for the transition or
asking for postponements as they have been doing for the last five years,
surprisingly most have been very cooperative during the entire process.
It has not been smooth sailing for the State FAs for various reasons, but
it is a journey they have all embarked on without much complaints or resistance.
The move will definitely change the landscape of Malaysian football and
with it FA of Malaysia can expect to face problems despite its optimism that it
will only be minor ones.
FAM is already bracing itself for several stages of action, after
formalising the FA to FC transition. The first evolves into a more
"educational/empowering" role to ensure the structure and stability
can be maintained, enhanced and further evolve.
Ramalingam stressed: “This FA to FC is a journey - not a
destination and we have only taken the first step.”
Indeed, it is a giant leap long overdue and as president of FA of
Malaysia and Malaysian Football League (MFL), Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said in
no uncertain terms: “The days of handling things with kid gloves are over. From
next year onwards we go strictly by the book. Teams have to be mindful, as MFL
will not be lenient anymore.”
But changing the mindset of present officials overnight is not
going to be easy despite Malaysian football having gone professional for almost
three decades.
There is already strong indication that many officials in the State FA
setup are going to jump across to the FCs.
FAM remains firm that officials cannot be in both the State FA and FC
too.
The exodus of State FA officials to FC would mean new State FA officials
will emerge and this could be good and bad.
Good, because we hopefully will see a new and younger set of officials
emerge. But whether it is attractive for this ‘new blood’ to come aboard is
left to be seen because their job is not glamorous – to handle grassroots
development and state leagues.
Bad, as FAM with a new set of officials at the State FAs, will have to
educate them on the workings of the national body and see them work efficiently
which could take time.
The attraction has always been managing the professional teams which is
where the money is.
And if State FA officials move to FCs, will anything change, as they
come with the mindset of State FA officials.
Ramalingam admitted that some states will move staff between FA and FC over the coming weeks/months.
“Although we see that whilst this may have a "negative impression", it has many benefits too. Transitions are never easy and having a steadying management does help during this time,” said Ramalingam.
“However the management of a football team/club needs to be led via a thorough and robust long-term strategic plan. For the short term, using ex-FA staff to stabilise the transition but with an idea of achieving the true potential of the FC requires new mindsets, talent and ideas, then the FC needs to quickly look into that needed long-term changes.
“I must say that some potential staff within a few of the FAs seem great talent to take lead of FCs. I am sure this process will be an eye opener for many and FAM will continue to play its role as a guardian of football even if you are a FA or FC.”
FAM is also concerned on teams appointing the right persons to become CEOs of the FC because a great deal on the success of the FC will depend on calibre CEOs to chart the professional path of their teams.
Then, FAM is bound to be faced with several teams who cannot convert to FCs as an Act in their organisation does not allow them to form a company to manage their team, or do not have the means to become a FC and may opt to play in the amateur M3 League.
Among those who could be affected include Felda and UiTM in the Super League and UKM in the Premier League.
Then, there could be teams who do not qualify for the licence.
If all this happens, then MFL will have to determine the number of teams in the Super League, which could see a reduced number or have teams promoted from Premier League to keep the 12-team format and see a reduced number of teams in the second-tier league which presently also has 12 teams.
Certainly, all indications are that the FA of Malaysia and MFL will have their hands full when both the deadlines are passed and without doubt will make the transitions a tedious process.
Ends.
No comments:
Post a Comment