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.
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