CHECKMATE BY FAM

NATIONAL TEAM TSUNAMI HAS BEGAN AS COACHING STAFF OPT OUT

S. BALACHANDRAN (pixs courtesy of Balachandran)

By Tony Mariadass

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) went a step ahead of the national team Harimau assistant coaches who were speculated by this blog that they would follow national coach Tan Cheng Hoe to resign, in support of the latter’s move.

The assistant coaches at the recent Suzuki AFF football tournament in Singapore were S. Balachandran, Azmin Azram Abdul Aziz (goalkeeper coach) and Martin Stano (fitness coach).

However, even before the coaches could submit their resignation letters, they together with team administrator, Andy Azzuddin, were called up to meet up with FA of Malaysia president Datuk Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin on Wednesday.

The discussion with the president surrounded on their positions with the national team and it was suggested that since national coach Tan Cheng Hoe has already resigned, and they were part of the ‘package team’ for the national team, it was best they considered their future with the national team which going to announce a new national coach or their future plans tomorrow afternoon.

An investigation body led by former national player and FAM general secretary Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, was set up  to investigate the cause of the national squad’s failure in Singapore, and will submit its report tomorrow.

After discussions with the President, all four decided to severe their ties with the national team, after they were told they could not be placed with other age-group national teams, as all positions were filled.

Balachandran, who has been assistant national coach from 2018, confirmed tonight that he is no longer with the national team

“We had a fruitful meeting with the President and understood each other’s predicament and came to a mutual decision to part ways,” disclosed Balachandran.

“We have been told that we will be compensated but will be told how many months soon.

“I am grateful to FAM for having given me an opportunity to work with them and hope that if there is an opportunity in the future to work with them again, I will be considered.

“I leave now with rich knowledge from my stints with the national team. Although with a heavy heart, it is all part and parcel of the job,” said Balachandran who has stints with the National U-16, U-15, U-14 as head coach.

“Besides, it is only logical and fair that we leave in support of national coach Tan Cheng Hoe who has resigned because we are a ‘team’.

BALACHANDRAN AND TAN CHENG HOE

Balachandran said he will now move forward to look for a job either locally or overseas.

“I have not applied anywhere officially but have made enquires and depending on the feedback, will consider my next move.”

It is learnt that Balachandran had send feelers for coaching opportunities in Philippines too.

When asked about Philippines, he said: “Nothing official. Am just considering all options I have and am prepared to coach locally or overseas if the opportunity arises.”

Balachandran who holds an AFC Pro Licence, besides having attended FIFA coaching course, is a holder of AFC ‘A’ Licence and a certified Physical Conditioning Specialist Program Level 1.

He is a former national midfielder, who was part of Kuala Lumpur hattrick Malaysia Cup victors (1987-1989).

It is indeed going to be an interesting day for Malaysian football tomorrow for besides Dell Akbar submitting his report, the FAM executive committee will also be convening to discuss the report, before Hamidin will be hold a press conference to reveal all proceedings,

 

IMMINENT FOOTBALL TSUNAMI?

CHENG HOE TO GET SUPPORT?

By Tony Mariadass

NATIONAL football team Harimau assistant coaches could follow suit national coach Tan Cheng Hoe to resign in support of the latter’s move.

The assistant coaches at the recent Suzuki AFF football tournament in Singapore were S. Balachandran, Azmin Azram Abdul Aziz (goalkeeper coach) and Martin Stano (fitness coach).

Whether all three coaches will be resigning or one or two of them, is not known, but there is strong indication the two local coaches will resign in the next few days.

If this happens, it will not give FA of Malaysia the liberty to ‘sack’ the assistant coaches or the new incoming national coach the choice to exclude them in his lineup.

FAM of Malaysia deputy president Datuk Yusof Mahadi who is also the national team manager, had recently, said the investigation body led by former national player and FAM general secretary Datuk Dell Akbar Khan was currently investigating the cause of the national squad’s failure in Singapore.

He added that he and team captain Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak were among the individuals called to provide statements.

Surprising that Yusof who was interviewed, gave a statement on the investigation when he is a party involved.

Even more surprising is that as a deputy president he is holding several keys positions in the body which is of conflict of interest.

Coaches who are appointed at all levels of national teams are interviewed and must have the relevant qualifications.

But whether team managers appointed are interviewed or have any football qualification or knowledge, or but merely appointed by their position they hold at FAM, is a question which need to be addressed.

And the need for two assistant team managers besides the team manager for Singapore, whereas only 24 players were selected and registered when they could have registered 30 players, is another question to be answered.

Should the assistant coaches resign as speculated, it is indeed going to force FA of Malaysia to answer more questions.

FA of Malaysia president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin has said that he will be holding a press conference on Friday to explain more on the national team’s performance.

It is indeed going to be an interesting week for Malaysian football.

 

SHEBBY GONE TOO SOON

SHEBBY LEAVES A LASTING IMPRESSION

By Tony Mariadass

LATEST UPDATE: 

Shebby's body which was in the wake from yesterday evening (Thursday) at the Nirvana Memorial Centre ib Skudai, Johor, was brought this morning  to the Loke Yew crematorium. The wake at the Sukhmani Sahib at the Loke Yew crematorium will be from 2pm and followed by the cremation ceremony at 4pm.

All wishing to pay their last respects are requested to strictly adhere to all Covid-19 SOPs in place.

FORMER national football defender Serbegeth (Shebby) Singh passed away yesterday evening  suspected from suffering a heart attack while cycling in Johor Baru.

Shebby who had turned 61 on Aug 20, indeed was a household name as a player and television pundit.

News of his passing away was indeed a shock, as he was still young and a considered a very fit person.

A national player from 1982 to 1991 who hails from Kluang, Johor, made his name with Kuala Lumpur whom he played from 1984 to 1990, where he won the Malaysia Cup for a hattrick time, League Cup and FA Cup.

At a reunion luncheon for the KL team in 2001, Shebby speaking on behalf of his teammates had said: “It was the close relationship among the players and officials that made us a family, and leading to our success.

"We were very lucky in the sense that we all gathered together as a team at the right place and right time and we had a great coach (the late Dr Josef Venglos) to mould us."

His teammates with the city team included the Singapore trios – Fandi Ahmad, K. Kannan and Malek Awab – and local players - Rashid Hassan, Mohamad Noor Basri, M. Pavalamani, Razip Ismail, Tang Siew Seng, Chow Siew Yai, Kamarulzaman Yusof, See Kim Seng, Nasaruddin Mat Din, Ramlan Askolani, S. Balachandran, Subadron Aziz Hashim Marman, Mat Zan Mat Aris, Saidin Osman, Lim Teong Kim, Nazim Din and the late Mohamad Zaid Jamil.

The man responsible for bringing Shebby to the bright city lights was the late KLFA and City Mayor, Tan Sri Elyas Omar and coach late S. Subramaniam.

 I played a small part in Shebby’s arrival in KL, as I as a rookie sportswriter went with Subramaniam to Kluang in 1983 to meet Shebby and his parents to offer him to play for KL.

 I have known Shebby personally since I covered my debut Sea Games in Singapore in 1983, when the former was turning out for the national team.

 Shebby was turning out for Johor from 1978 till 1983.

It was a weekend after the Sea Games in Singapore, that I drove coach Subramaniam to Kluang from Kuala Lumpur.

Subramaniam, a day before had called me and asked if I could follow him to Kluang and if I could drive him, as he was going alone to make a surprise visit on Serbegeth.

Obviously, I obliged, and the rest was history.

We arrived in Kluang and went straight to the LLN (now TNB) office, where Shebby worked.

Shebby was not in the office, as he was on holiday visiting his girlfriend then, former national athlete Harbans Kaur, whom he went on to marry.

We met a close friend of Shebby who works with him (a Chinese boy by the name of Ah Chew), who took us to Shebby’s home to meet his parents.

The late Subramaniam who passed away about five months ago, told Shebby’s parents that he wants to offer their son a professional football contract with Kuala Lumpur and asked their permission to allow him to move to the city.

The parents objected as they did not want to see their son move to KL and leave them, but Subramaniam assured them that Shebby will be looked after by Tan Sri Elyas and he personally will be responsible for the well-being of Shebby and he will look after Shebby like his own son.

And rest was history after Shebby returned home after his holiday in Penang and came to KL to meet Tan Sri Elyas and Subramaniam to sign up for KL.

But what followed, rocked Malaysian football as Shebby was banned by Johor FA for moving to KL without their permission and fine RM500,000.

Shebby served the banned and went on to play for KL after that where he made a name for himself and even captained the KL team.

Shebby and I became close friends, and I followed his playing career from KL moving on to Pahang (1991 – 1992), back to KL (1993-1994), Negri Sembilan (1994-1995) and Perak (1995-1996).

As a player, Serbegeth was a disciplinarian who trained hard, watched his diet, slept early, a teetotaler, never smoked and loved reading on football.

On field, he got his job done, although some players complained that he would be very vociferous and got into argument with his teammates.

He was just being very competitive and always wanted to give his best and win matches,

After his playing career, he made a name for himself as a football pundit and was still involved in football as coach of MyTeam, Technical Advisor of Malacca (2007), ‘Global Adviser’ for Blackburn Rovers (2012-13) and technical director of JDT.

As a pundit, his audience either loved him or hated him for his style of presentation.

But without doubt, he made his lasting impact.

Indeed gone too soon.

Condolences to his family and may he rest in peace.

Goodbye my dear friend Shebby.

 

 

WAS CHENG HOE A SCAPEGOAT?

 CHENG HOE A PROFESSIONAL AND GENTLEMAN

By Tony Mariadass

Why has national Tan Cheng Hoe to resign with a one-year contract still in hand?

Was there more than what the eyes meet in his resignation?

Yes, Cheng Hoe is a professional and a gentleman, who was brave to stand accountable for the national team’s failure to meet the target to qualify for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup in Singapore.

But the target was set by team manager Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, who is also the deputy president of the FA of Malaysia.

“For sure we should be eyeing the title or at least entering the final each time we play at the Asean level. This is because FAM has set its sight on Asia,” he told a new conference after the FAM executive committee meeting in November.

Fine, but was Cheng Hoe given the full liberty to select his players, was he given ample time to prepare the team, did he had a voice on naturalized players and did he have full say in the lineup of the team for matches.

Cheng Hoe in resigning form his national coaching position on Monday, had said that he was just being a professional and his quit decision was his own as he did not achieve his target.

Did anyone expect him to say otherwise and state his real reasons?

In Malaysian football one must be diplomatic and not step on anyone’s toes or face the wrath.

And Cheng Hoe is a true gentleman who would not even hurt a fly. But he was a great coach and a timely change for Malaysian football. He was exemplary as a player and a coach.

Had it been the late firebrand coach Chow Kwai Lam, he would have probably spilled the beans as it was and would have taken no nonsense from anyone.

B. Sathinanthan has come to say that he made all decisions as a national coach in 2007 despite trying to be influenced not to recruit a certain player.

It only goes to show that in Malaysian football, those who do not have any knowledge in football, still can make calls because of their position or political connection.

I have covered 24 national coaches since my reporting days in 1977 and often, when a coach is dismissed, resigns or contracts not renewed, it is always the coach who failed.

None of the FAM Council members, team managers or the hands behind the scenes, will come forward to admit their mistakes or failures.

The State affiliates who make up the FAM are equally guilty when a national team fails because it is because of their failure at the State who do not have quality local leagues or any league at all, to unearth new talent, do enough grassroot development and work with the schools, that see dearth of talent coming through.

And the obsession of hiring foreign players instead of looking for local talent and grooming them, has further dragged Malaysian football through the mud!

There has been a coach whose contract was not extended because with one match to qualify with just a draw for the second round pre-World Cup, the authorities decided to appoint a local coach, recall ex-internationals and players off position. And we lost the match!

Then, there was a coach whose contract was not renewed despite winning a regional tournament because he was too close to the players!

Another coach decided to leave because he sensed a final match which Malaysia won in a regional tournament was ‘fixed’ by the referee.

Another reputable coach was relived of his duties but went to several other countries and did well.

Then, we had coaches who earned their coaching badges in Malaysia who become national coaches only to produce mediocre results in mediocre tournaments.

Of course, there were coaches who were fired because they were inept in their job, but NOT those who hired the coach.

Many of the coaches have confided in me the real reasons for their departure but were not willing to come out in the open for fear of their remaining wages being delayed, might have problems finding jobs elsewhere or have struck a deal to leave without revealing the real reasons for their departure.

While foreign coaches normally speak after they have left the country or secured a job elsewhere, local national coaches normally remain silent and take the brunt and keep silent, as they still need to find a job with the states or clubs.

We have had several local coaches who have done well, but in the end, they leave with frustrations of not being able to work independently with their working staff or players ‘fixing’ them.

It is never easy being a coach and being a professional they are the ones who should take the blame for failures – provided they are given a free hand to manage their team.

But when ‘hidden hands’ and other interferences are involved, everyone should take the responsibility and not look for scape goats, while the actual culprits are still around to do continue to do damage.

Good luck Malaysia. Until and when we can have fair play at all levels and from everyone, we will continue to walk down the dark lane.