Time for a rethink, FAM (The Malay Mail)

OLYMPIC 2000 coach Hatem Souissi's job may be under scrunity but taking
any drastic measures against him now will only mean going a few steps
backwards instead of forward.
 Souissi's review comes about after the team's 9-0 thrashing by the
Thailand national team preparing for the Asian Games during the recent
playing tour of Bangkok, which also saw the Olympic 2000 side losing 5-1
and 4-2 to club sides.
 FA of Malaysia deputy president Tengku Abdullah, who is the Tengku
Mahkota of Pahang, said yesterday Hatem's position would be reviewed based
on the team's next outing at the Bristol Independence Cup in Sri Lanka
from Nov 15-21.
 Apart from Malaysia, the other teams competing are hosts Sri Lanka,
Maldives, and India. The top two teams qualify for the final, which offers
US$10,000 (RM38,000) for the champions and US$5,000 (RM19,000) for the
runners-up.
 If the Olympic 2000 team fail to reach the final, will it mean Hatem
will be sacked?
 Tengku Abdullah would not commit himself.
 "We will assess the situation and make a decision then," said Tengku
Abdullah.
 Should FA of Malaysia sack Hatem, it is no guarantee the team will do
well in the Olympic qualifiers, with the likes of Japan in their group, to
be played in the next six months.
 The bottomline is everything has to be studied in detail and whatever
decision made must be technical in nature and not done through emotions or
because one does not like the person.
 FA of Malaysia are wrong in harbouring any hopes of Olympic 2000 making
the Sydney Olympics. With all due respect to FAM, sometimes we have to
face reality and accept it.
 Expecting a team assembled three years ago (and spending millions of
ringgit) to become overnight champions is certainly a far-fetched thought
- and not a formula for success.
 The present team should have about at least six to eights years'
training behind them - which means they should have started off at the age
of 10 or the latest 12.
 But when one has to recruit 25 out of 3,000 players 16 years of age and
above, the timing is definitely out with the team heading for disaster.
 What more, these players are still raw and need to be taught the basics
of the game.
 The problem with Malaysian soccer is it has always been lacking in
patience and expecting short-term results. There is no continuity and the
coaches, instead of the system, are blamed for it.
 In any case, FAM appointed Souissi based on his credentials and
capabilities. By getting rid of him, they will only be admitting their
mistake in hiring him three years ago and it took them so long to realise
it.
 For all we know, Souissi may just throw in the towel and leave before
FAM decide to sack him. He may do it not because he has given up or does
not believe in himself but merely because he is a true professional who
has put in a great deal of honest work, which does not seem to be
appreciated.
 At the end of the day, one must realise race horses cannot be made out
of ponies.
                                (END)

Foreign pros have done well (The Malay Mail)

IF IT could be helped, Penang coach Moey Yoke Ham would not want to lose
the foreign touch in his Premier One winning team.
 Yoke Ham said his team would feel the strain if foreign players are done
away from the M-League next season.
 Weighing the pros and cons, he said: "If financial difficulty is the
main factor for doing away with foreign players, then we'll just have to
go with it.
 "But I believe if teams stay within their means, the money problem can
be solved.
 "If teams do not have the money for three foreign players, they need not
take three and burden themselves."
 Yoke Ham said it was unfair to generalise that foreign players have not
served their purpose in the local soccer scene.
 "Without our foreign players, we would not be the formidable team we are
now.
 "Most foreign players here have in one way or another contributed to
their teams. And the local players are learning from them.
 "As for those who are not up to the mark, we should blame ourselves for
making a poor selection rather then faulting the players.
 "Our players like Merzagua (Abderazzak), Riyadh (Abbas), Balla (Conde)
and Fabio (Da Silva) who is injured, have been exemplary figures.
 "There have been occasions when I got the local players to train under
them to learn more about the game.
 "And I am sure the opposing teams have also benefited from the presence
of foreigners, some of whom have tested the local players to the limit.
 "Any local defender marking Merzagua for instance, will definitely end
up  richer in experience."
 The final decision on foreign players will be made at the FAM Council
meeting on Sunday.
 There is a strong likelihood of foreign players being barred for at
least one season but the State FAs could compromise by allowing one
foreign player per team.
                                (END)

Getting to the root of the problem (The Malay Mail)

THE FA of Malaysia (FAM) are getting themselves directly involved in the
grassroots development of the game.
 And they have to as the State FAs, whose very job it is to handle it,
have made little headway on their own.
 The FAM have received much unsatisfactory feedback on the development
programmes of State FAs.
 One of the features of development stressed by the FAM was monitoring
the setup of State academies. Till now, all States have fulfilled that aim
except for Sarawak.
 But running the academies has been quite an arduous task for the State
FAs. Checks by the FAM on the state of the academies and their running of
them have exposed some alarming shortcomings.
 Among them are:
 * Poor selection of players and cases of favouritism;
 * Unqualified coaches handling the academies;
 * Lack of proper playing fields for the academies;
 * Insufficient number of players and difference in age and mix.
 Last Tuesday, FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah, who is also the
Technical and Development Committee chairman, visited the Kuala Lumpur FA
Academy at the Bandar Tun Razak Stadium for a first hand view of the
facilities.
 Though he was generally satisfied, Tengku Abdullah felt there was still
much room for improvement - not only in KL, but all the academies
throughout the country.
 One urgent change needed is for the academies to be more comfortable and
spacious. Tengku Abdullah noted that the KLFA Academy was a little
cramped.
 He said FAM's direct involvement in grassroots development was to ensure
that everything is run smoothly in the State FAs.
 "The panel of coaches with the Technical Department will assist in the
selection of players for the Academy. This is to ensure that only the best
in all the different age-groups in each State are in the Academy," said
Tengku Abdullah.
 That comment came after Razip Ismail, a former KL and international
defender, one of the two KL Academy coaches along with Tang Siew Sing,
voiced his concern that the best players were not in the Academy.
 The selection was already made before the appointment of Razip and Siew
Sing. They called for the talent pool to be widened as the number of
players in each age group now under their wing was far from sufficient.
 There are currently 30 players in the KL Academy - five players from
Form Five, nine from Form Four, five from Form Three, six from Form Two
and five from Form One.
 Tengku Abdullah assured that the intake of players will be increased
next year.
 An extension programme is on the cards where several more schools will
be included in the programme to increase the number of players in each
age-group.
 These players will not be based in the academy but attend training. The
FAM will keep a close eye on the selection process to ensure that only the
best is picked.
 "As this is a long-term investment we want to see results. For that to
happen, everything has to be done professionally," said Tengku Abdullah.
 "Incompetent coaches will be replaced."
 Tengku Abdullah urged the State FAs to seek the assistance of their
respective State Governments or Local Town Councils in acquiring vacant
land to build more playing fields.
 KL, in particular, is facing a shortage of playing fields.
 "The FAM will assist in whatever way to acquire land once the State FAs
have identified them and forwarded their requests to the State Governments
or Local Authorities. We'll also be looking at school fields to utilise
them," he said.
 "Ideally, we would like the State FAs to run their academies. But the
current situation requires us to step in and see that all plans are
carried out smoothly."
                               (END)

FAM to see to leagues in the States (The Malay Mail)

THE FA of Malaysia will soon be directly involved in the organising of
leagues at the State level.
  FAM are disturbed by the quality and organisation of most of the State
leagues while in some States there are no such leagues.
  FAM have decided to go to the grassroots to ensure at least some
development.
  FAM deputy president, Tengku Abdullah, who is also the technical and
development committee chairman, said plans are underway to ensure all
State FAs organise local leagues.
  They are to be run simultaneously on specified days of the week.
  "The State FAs are supposed to be organising local leagues to spot and
groom talent. They are also supposed to hold a competition for clubs,"
said Tengku Abdullah.
  "But most states have not lived up to their obligations and now FAM will
ensure local competitions are organised and run smoothly and effectively."
  Tengku Abdullah said a paper will be drawn up to ensure the league is
run uniformly in all the States.
  Despite the substantial grants, State FAs have been neglecting soccer
development. Their only emphasis seems to be the M-League.
  State FAs assemble age-group teams for a couple of weeks for a carnival
national tournament and then disband them.
  FAM insist on longer training periods and proper tournaments.
  Club soccer offers an opportunity for young players to stay involved
after leaving school and before making the grade at a higher level.
  Club teams like Umno, Prisons, MCIS, PKNS, Hong Chin, Penang Port
Commission, Sultan Suliaman Club, KL City Hall, Sungei Tong, Perak SEDC,
Kelantan PKNK, Terengganu Municipality Town Council, UMBC used to produce
players of caliber for the States and the nation.
  But that was long ago.
  For the national body to do the work of the State FAs in developing
players is a crying shame.
  Still, someone has to do it.
                               (END)

MM take time out before the big clash (The Malay Mail)

KUALA LUMPUR MALAY MAIL face Malacca Telekom in the return leg of the FAM
Cup semifinals on Sunday but they were not working themselves to death in
training yesterday.
 Instead, the team had a splashing time at the Desa WaterPark, having an
evening of fun and relaxation.
 MM accepted an invitation from the recreational park to take their mind
off the impending clash.
 Telekom edged MM 1-0 in the first leg at TLDM Stadium in Lumut last
Sunday. The second leg is at KLFA Stadium.
 (In the other semifinal, Kelantan TNB edged Kelantan JKR 3-2 in the
first leg in Kota Baru).
 MM coach R. Subramaniam said although they are trailing by a goal, he
believes MM have what it takes to overcome Telekoms and make the final.
 "It will not be easy but I am encouraged by the determination of the
players. They want to make amends for the first leg defeat," said
Subramaniam.
 MM beat the Selangor M-League team 1-0 on Wednesday at the MPPJ Stadium
in a friendly match and are raring to take on Telekom.
 "The players are relaxed now after the outing and we will get back to
serious work," said Subramaniam.
 The players had a grand time on the rides, including Surf Sack, Splash
Out, Clown-a-Round, Pink Slide, Shock Wave, Bubble Pool, a 200 feet wide
Action River and the longest uphill water coaster in the region.
                                (END)

Make up your mind! (The Malay Mail)

FOREIGN players could still feature in next year's M-League despite a FAM
decision earlier to do away with them.
 FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah said yesterday the final decision
rests with the State FAs themselves.
 "It was the State FAs who had called for the foreign players to be
barred because of the economic problems.
 "A majority of them had agreed to do away with the foreign players when
we met the last time.
 "But some of them have had a change of heart and are clamouring for the
continued services of the foreigners."
 Tengku Abdullah said he personally has nothing against the presence of
foreign players in the M-League.
 "It is just that they are expensive and with our economic problems, we
have have to rethink.
 "The US dollar is not cheap and with most of the States facing financial
problems, we have to evaluate the situation."
 Asked whether the option to hire foreigners could be left to the State
FAs instead of enforcing a blanket ban, Tengku Abdullah said it was best
discussed by the State FA representatitives at council level.
 "The final decision lies with the council and we will wait and see when
we meet on Nov 8."
 Whether the foreigners will still be around next year is anybody's guess
as the States have proven to be fickle and indecisive over the issue.
 While the consensus at last month's council meeting was the exclusion of
foreign pros, most of them are having second thoughts now.
 Some claim the views of their representatives at the council did not
reflect that of their State FAs.
 "Why can't they just leave it open. Let the State FAs who can afford it,
hire the foreigners," said one State FA official.
 Another official said: "We still need at least one foreigner in the team
and it will not cost much."
                                (END)

Kelantan sure bet (The Malay Mail)

KELANTAN will definitely be represented in the FAM Cup final next month.
 Kelantan's JKR and TNB have qualified for the FAM Cup semifinals and
will meet each other for a place in the final.
 The battle on the terraces will be equally interesting as that on the
field as the supporters will be split in support of the two competing
teams, both Kelantan based.
 There will be no home ground advantage to speak of as both have been
playing their home matches at the Sultan Mohamed IV Stadium in Kota Baru.
 Kelantan JKR finished top in Group B while TNB were runners-up in Group
A.
 JKR, going by their performance against Kuala Lumpur Malay Mail, had
wanted to meet TNB rather than defending champions Malacca Telekom.
 Despite having qualified for the semifinal, they played their guts out
to earn a draw and thus top the group.
 That result left  Malay Mail who ended the group runners-up, the
daunting task of taking on the defending champions in the semifinal.
 Malay Mail took an early lead and were going all out for a win but JKR
came back strongly for the equaliser and defended stoutly to keep the
score level, so as to top the Group.
 TNB, on the other hand, had to dig deep into their reserves to hold
Terengganu Perkasa Alam to a 2-2 draw to pip them to the semifinals.
 Debutants Perkasa have indeed been going great guns and it is a pity
they were edged out.
 Perkasa needed to win, while TNB only needed a draw to book a semifinal
slot.
 Now with both JKR and TNB having to face each other in the semifinals,
the only consolation the home fans will have is that they are assured of a
Kelantan team in the final.
 JKR are coached by Awang Esa while TNB are coached by Kelantan's former
international Salim Mahmud.
 In the other semifinal, Telekom start as favourites as they attempt to
reach their fourth FAM Cup final.
 Telekom won the FAM Cup in 1994 and 1995 before they were denied a
hattrick by Johor FC in 1996. Last year, they failed to make the
semifinals and it was Armed Forces who won the championship beating Negri
Sembilan Chempaka.
 Telekom have a lethal striker in Ghana's youth international Issac
Kuffour who has been plundering at will. He has scored 21 goals in 14
matches.
 They also have an able defender in Uzbekistan defender Oleg Burov and
several calibre local players in P. Vinod, S. Manivanan, Manzoor Azwira
Abdul Wahid, Olaga Shankar, V. Sellathurai, Anuar Hassan to name a few.
 Telekom, however will not be having homeground advantage as the Kubu
Stadium is not available.
 They will now play their home match at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh as
Paroi Stadium is not available either.
 Malay Mail, on the other hand have nothing to lose.
 Having reached the semifinals in only their second season is indeed
commendable.
 They have a foreigner in defender Taso Notaras from Perth, Australia.
 They also have several experienced players in goalkeeper M. Pavalamani,
defenders K. Viajantheran, N. Suresh, S. Mathen, midfielders S.
Balachandran, S. Saravanan and striker K. Hemadass.
 They also have former KL youth players Mohd Imran Ahmad and N.
Ellangovan, while others like skipper Hasnul Ramlan Khairuddin, Azizul
Jamaluddin, Roshidi Ramli and Robert Maniam are all mainstayes of the
team.
 The odds may be stacked against Malay Mail, but their determined effort
might just see a surprise finalist.
 The first leg will be played on Oct 25 and the return leg on Nov 1.

LAST WEEK'S RESULTS
GROUP A
Sabah G'kod       1    M'cca Telekom   6
T'ggnu P. Alam    2    Kelantan TNB    2

GROUP B
Kelantan JKR      1    KL Malay Mail   1
Negri BSN         0    Kedah PKNK      1
                              (END)