GET HELP FROM EXPERTS FIRST, KRITHANA TOLD

By Tony Mariadass

 Eye for a gold?

Karim Ibrahim, Perak Amateur Athletics Association (PAAA) president, has called for thorough assistance to national triple jumper, R. Krithana, before even considering her to be enlisted as a para athlete.

Karim, the former Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF) president, was puzzled why there is a rush to get the 23-year-old athlete who hails from Bagan Serai to become a para athlete before every avenue has been exhausted to assist her to correct her failing eye sight.

Krithana has been having eye sight problems since 2017 but her vision has been deteriorating and finished a seventh in last year’s Sea Games in Philippines in her third Games.

It was later revealed that her poor performance at the New Clark City Athletics City was because she could not see the jumping board and had a few foul jumps.

“I urge the National Sport Council (NSC) and National Sports Institute (NSI) to do everything possible to assist her by sending her to specialists for tests and assist her if her condition can be corrected or at least improved. She is a national athlete and NSC, NSI and even MAF should look into saving her condition from deteriorating further,” said Karim.

“If tests have been done, I would like to know her real condition and if there is anyway Perak AAA can assist further for further tests or rectify her condition, we will.

“We also will provide her any welfare assistance, as we understand she lost her father two months ago and the family has difficulties, as only her older brother is employed.”

Krithana, a mass communication undergraduate with University Putra Malaysia, when contacted, confirmed that she is considering becoming a para athlete but said that she has no knowledge of her actual condition and whether her condition will qualify her as a para athlete.

“I had gone for a test after returning from Philippines, but had returned back home in January as my father was ill (has since passed away two months ago) and do not know the result of the test.

“Of course I want to get back my normal eye sight if possible or correct it to be better, but as a last resort I may have to consider being a para athlete if my condition worsens,” said Krithana who is contract navy personnel, as she runs for them.

Asked how she manages with her studies with her eyesight, she said: “I manage with contact lenses.”

Krithana’s coach, Ahmad Firdaus Salim, has claimed that the doctor who examined her, had told that Krithana has uncorrected refractive errors – a condition where the eye is misshapen (not having the normal or natural shape or form), preventing successful refraction and suggests her competes as para athlete.

Paralympic athletics head coach R. Jeganathan, also confirmed that he has been approached to see if Krithana can compete as a para athlete.

“As a Paralympic coach I will assist anyone who has a handicap and but the athlete first has to be certified by the Paralympic Council, that the he or she, has a handicap,” said Jeganathan.

“However, I hope that relevant bodies first test Krithana to ensure that her handicap is serious and cannot be corrected. I am here to assist her if that is her last resort.

“I was told that Krithana has gone for a test at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital and was said to be suffering from eye nerve problem,” he added.

However, Jeganathan also said that like several Paralympic athletes, Kirthana if certified as a Paralympic, can still compete under the able bodied athletics meet.

National paralympians Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (shot putt) and Abdul Latiff Romly (long jump) are two athletes who compete under the able bodied athletics meet.

Dr S. Radha Krishnan, president of Malaysian Blind Sports Association (MBSA) and also deputy president Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM), said he sympathises with Krithana’s condition but she must first get herself tested by certified doctors by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

“Firstly, Krithana should get assistance to see if her condition can be reversed or made better. We are taking about deteriorating eyesight and it is serious, because it effects a person’s life,” said Dr Radha.

“But if her condition is bad and has already been tested to give her assistance, then I can assist to get one of the three certified doctors by IPC from Malaysia to test her.”

According to Dr Radha, the three doctors in Malaysia who are certified are Dr Vijaya Menon and Geetha Ramakrishnan (both Tun Hussein Onn Eye Hospital) and Datuk Dr Rokiah Omar (UKM).

To be eligible to compete at the Paralympic Games, athletes must have at least one of the following diagnoses:

·        Impairment of the eye structure

·        Impairment of the optic nerve or pathways

·        Impairment of the visual cortex of the brain.

Athletes are classified according to their level of corrected vision and must have an impairment in both eyes that meets the minimal disability criteria of visual acuity that is less than or equal to LogMAR = 1.00 (6/60) and/or a visual field that is less than a radius of 40 degrees.

Karim said that he hopes that the interest of Krithana to improve her eye sight is given utmost importance and not look at her as an opportunity to win medals in the Paralympic competitions including seeing her qualify for the Olympics, where will have a chance to win medal and get rewards.

Krithana has a personal best of 13.48 has finished fifth in the Asian championship in Doha last year with a distance of 13.33m.

Ends.

Get help from experts first, Krithana told

FILE PIX: Perak Amateur Athletics Association president Datuk Karim Ibrahim.

By Tony Mariadass - April 16, 2020 @ 8:15am

THERE is a move to get national triple jump champion, R. Krithana to become a para-athlete due to her failing eyesight.

However, Perak Amateur Athletics Association (PAAA) president Karim Ibrahim has called for the authorities to provide extensive medical assistance for her before anything else.

Karim is puzzled over the hurry to get the 23-year-old from Bagan Serai to switch to para-athletics before every avenue to help her vision, has been exhausted.

He said the priority should be on improving Krithana’s eyesight and not for others to think about her in a situation to win medals in Paralympic competitions and get rewards.

Krithana’s eyesight has been deteriorating since 2017. And it led to her finishing seventh (she could not see the jumping board and had a few foul jumps) in December’s Sea Games in Philippines. She came in fifth in last year’s Asian championship in Doha with a distance of 13.33m.

“I urge the National Sport Council (NSC) and National Sports Institute (NSI) to do everything possible to help Krithana,” said Karim.

“Help her by sending her to specialists and see if her condition can be corrected or at least improved.

“She is a national athlete and NSC, NSI and even MAF (Malaysian Athletics Federation) should look into giving her the best possible medical help.

“If tests have been done, I would like to know what is her ‘real’ condition, and if there is anyway Perak AAA can help in further treatment.

“We will provide her with welfare assistance, as we understand that she lost her father two months ago. Her family has difficulties, as only her elder brother is employed.”

Krithana, when contacted by Timesport, confirmed that she is considering becoming a para athlete.

However, Krithana said she has no knowledge of her actual condition and whether she will qualify as a para athlete.

“I had gone for a test after returning from the Philippines Sea Games, but went home in January as my father was ill (he later died) and I do not know the result of the test.

“I hope to get back my normal eye sight if possible or that it can be corrected.

“But as a last resort, I may have to consider being a para athlete if my condition worsens,” said Krithana, who is a contract navy personnel, as she runs for them.

Asked how she is coping with her studies amid vision problem, Krithana said: “I manage with contact lenses.”

Krithana’s coach, Ahmad Firdaus Salim revealed that the doctor who examined her, had said the athlete has uncorrected refractive errors – a condition where the eye is misshapen (not having natural form). Ahmad feels that she should compete as a para athlete.

Paralympic athletics head coach R. Jeganathan said he had been asked whether Krithana can compete as a para athlete.

“As a Paralympic coach, I will assist anyone who has a handicap but the athlete first has to be certified by the Paralympic Council, that he or she has a handicap,” he said.

“I hope the relevant bodies first test Krithana to ensure that her handicap is serious and cannot be corrected. I am here to assist her if that is her last resort.

“I was told that Krithana had gone for a test at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital and she was said to be suffering from eye nerve problem.”

Jeganathan pointed out that several Paralympic athletes can till compete in able bodied athletics events. For example, national paralympians Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli (shot putt) and Abdul Latiff Romly (long jump).

Dr S. Radha Krishnan, president of the Malaysian Blind Sports Association (MBSA) and deputy president of Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM), sympathises with Krithana but said she must first get herself tested by doctors of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

“Firstly, Krithana should get help to see if her condition can be reversed or made better.

“We are talking about deteriorating eyesight which affects a person’s life,” said Dr Radha.

“I can get one of the three certified doctors by IPC from Malaysia to test her.”

BEWARE OF COVID CORRUPTORS

https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2020/04/583299/open-chances-match-fixers

EXCLUSIVE BY TONY MARIADASS

THE Covid 19 pandemic could well see a different disease, one which is considerably more dangerous – match fixing – resurfaces again when the M-League finally resumes.

   The FA of Malaysia, Malaysian Football League (MFL), States FAs, clubs and authorities must remain extra vigilant and nip any such attempt in the bud.

   It's no secret that in the past Malaysian football was heavily plagued by rigging of matches mainly because of late payment of players' salaries, low wages and on occasion players living the high life.

   With pay cuts being the hot topic presently due to the temporary suspension of all Malaysian football tournaments because of the Covid 19 pandemic, and with several clubs yet to settle outstanding payments to players, the recipe for match-fixing to rear its ugly head is on the cards yet again.

   Of course, present day players earn much more but there are still teams surviving on low budgets with some players being paid well below what they are worth which brings about rumblings due to disparity of wages among the players in the team.

   How can we forget the blow Malaysian football suffered when an investigation in 1994 resulted in a total of 21 players and coaches being sacked, 58 players suspended and a further 126 questioned about corruption?

  Contrary to the many who choose to sweep the match-fixing problem under the carpet and opt believe that it has been completely eradicated from Malaysian football, it is no secret that the problem still exists and will continue to do so as long as there is illegal betting on football matches. Maybe not as rampant as previously but it still exists, as has surfaced on occasions.

   A majority of officials will side-step the subject when brought up, but the bolder ones who have nothing to hide and only have football's interest at heart, as was a recent case when club team's coach raised the issue. Not surprisingly he was quickly shown the exit soon, despite some players being hauled up by the authorities

   NST Sports, in a bold effort to try and get rid of the match-fixing menace, has held an exclusive interview with English coach, Steve Darby, who coached several teams in Malaysia from the late 90s up to seven years ago. Darby talks about his personal experience and gives his suggestions on how to combat this menace.

  Darby, who turned 65 on Jan 15, is a well-known football pundit in Asia but is currently back in Oxton Wirral (opposite Liverpool) looking after his 88-year-old mother. “My mother is not doing well, so it was time for me to come home and do the right thing, and with the current corona virus situation, it was indeed the right thing to do.”

  “Match-fixing is not a black and white issue. It’s very complex and not easy to understand. But I fully agree with Declan Hill, author of 'The Fix’, and an expert on the subject when he said "it is the greatest threat to sport that exists. But a few salient points have to be stated first.

   1. It’s not a recent phenomenon, it was happening in the 1900s e.g. Liverpool and Manchester United.

   2. It effects every country including England, Italy, Spain, Germany, as well as the Asian continent.

   3. It’s driven by gambling, especially Asian gamblers. Online gambling causing a boom.

   4.There are many reasons why people fix and there are many ways on how to fix.

   I played and began to coach in England and Australia and a major feature was that it was pre-internet and hence no online gambling. This made me believe, rather naively, that when I first encountered the match-fixing menace in South East Asia, that it was a straight forward black and white issue. You were either a cheat or you were not.

   I first encountered match-fixing (I think!), while coaching Johor FA. I was walking off the pitch at half-time and a foreigner from the other team said “you’re going to win 2-0 …” and I asked how do you know? He replied: “I can understand Bahasa!” Sure enough, we scored in the 84^th and 89^th minutes, so no time for a third and they weren’t going to score. When you are winning, you don’t think about the fix. You think you are a great coach and winning.

   In another match that my team won, I noticed during the game, and this was confirmed on video, their goalkeeper never made any major blunders (the good fixing keepers don’t) but was slightly out of position and any save he made was palmed back into dangerous areas.

   An honest Malaysian player explained some of the realities, or if you prefer, the complexities of the subject. He told me you will get a call, and the caller will mention the amount of your salary and knows if you have or have not been paid. The bookies have access to all confidential information, it’s their business to be in the know. For example, they know you earn RM3000 a month and maybe are two months behind in wages. They offer you RM10,000 to help fix a result. You say No! Then they ask does your daughter still go to this school, or does your mum shop every Saturday at 10am? The player has little choice but to agree and takes the money. You get it, but next time, and there is always a next time. you get offered less as they know you have nowhere to go.

   Also, as we saw a few years ago in Negri Sembilan, young players were targeted and once the bookies have them they have them for life.

  Again my naivety kicked in. I innocently asked why not go to the FA or even the Police. It took the player a while to stop laughing before replying you don’t know how high this goes and who is pulling the strings.

  Also what do you do if your father is in debt with the bookies? Your daughter needs an operation? It is very easy to take the moral high ground, but there are situations where players close an eye to their principles.

   This summed up the most realistic issue for me. Why should an often uneducated player have these wonderful ethics and values, when the Police, politicians and administrators, who are meant to be pillars of our society are often corrupt. But the sadder issue is that the players who are at the bottom of this food chain are often the ones caught and banned for life, whilst the players above, the runners and the fat-cat money men at the top get away with it.

  There was a case in Perak where one of my players was approached by runners. He reported it to me, including photos of him with the runners. I reported this to our FA, and they in turn reported it to FAM. Nothing happened! PFA reported it to the Police, who interviewed me (not the player) and again nothing happened, despite photo evidence.

  Overall I am convinced I have been involved in both winning and losing of 11 games. I am certain there must be more. Some are publicly confirmed such as Kelantan v Ninh Binh in the AFC Cup when the Ninh Binh team were banned after the game. Others were confirmed in the book ‘Kelong Kings’ by Wilson Raj Perumal, the renowned convicted fixer. He speaks about games he was involved in at international level but were fixed by referees.

  'Buying' a referee is a cheaper and easier way to arrange for a game to be fixed, and again there are solid rumours in Malaysia about who is 'buying' referees, but then again no proof. Though I have been shown video evidence of a bookie giving signals to a referee in a match, and this was reported but again nothing happened.

  The other naive view of match-fixing is that it is a win/lose scenario. Not with the Asian handicap system or simple spot fixing e.g. a red card in the second half. You can win and still make money! It almost compensates for the immorality.

  My last coaching role was with the Laos national team for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. After the qualification was over and I had left, four of my team players were banned for life. Two I had suspicions of, but they were easily in the best eleven and trained well and played well in the World Cup matches. But apparently they earned their money in friendlies. Usually away from home so there was less pressure of exposure on them.

   The other two I would have put my house on being honest, I would now be homeless! Though I am convinced one is still innocent and sadly the fixers who are well known in Laos football are still free and operating.

A trusted player said to me: “Coach think about it, we don’t get paid to be in the national team, some even lose money. We are on about US$200 a month from our club. We go into a match knowing we will lose as the other team is better so we may as well lose by a set score.”

It’s a logic, a different cultural logic, but if it means they buy their mother a house, they justify it. Or the less altruistic ones buy a car.

How do we stop this menace?

Sadly, I think it will never be stopped while there is money to be made by somebody somewhere. All I think you can do is reduce the incidents.

These measures will help:

·   Pay the players on time. Poverty is the best avenue for the bookies to exploit. That is a big problem in Malaysia. I experienced that in Perak when the new state government stopped paying the players. 

·   Education programmes in schools/academies. It’s too late when players are full professionals. The fixers are now going after youth players as they are cheap and you have them for life. An AFC representative came to my national team, said the right things and left a shiny leaflet with hotlines for whistle-blowers. After the session there were 22 paper aeroplanes flying about. The pamphlet was in English; the players couldn’t understand or read English so the education has to be locally driven.

·      If someone is genuinely guilty and fixed for pure greed, then bans must be for life from all forms of the game. Not allowed back as a coach or an administrator.

·         Legalise gambling in Malaysia with the profits going to the poor, or to Youth development. This would at least eliminate a percentage of money going out of football. I suggested this in Malaysia, I was hammered by the zealots! But no one is made to gamble, just as no one is made to drink beer, but you can legally buy beer. And let’s be honest, all races in Malaysia are gambling!

·         Catch the Big Boys, the money men.

    Though perhaps that's my naivety kicking in again.”

Steve Darby’s coaching details

Darby obtained his UEFA A Licence in 1979. He became an official FIFA Instructor for the Oceania region in 1981 and AFC Instructor 1998 and was Technical Director for the Australian Soccer Federation between 1990–1995.

He then moved on to coach Sydney Olympic, but left in 1998 to coach Johor FA, where he enjoyed a successful spell, winning Malaysia FA Cup and league title. He left the club in 2001 to take charge of the Vietnam women's team, whom he led to a gold medal in the 2001 SEA Games. The first ever Gold medal for Vietnam in Football.

After that, he was appointed youth team coach for Sheffield Wednesday FC under Terry Yorath, but remained there only for a season before taking over the reins at Singapore'sHome United. In his four-year tenure as Home United boss, Darby led them to a league and cup double in 2003 and also a semi-final spot in the 2004 AFC Cup. Also winning the Singapore Cup in 2005.

At the end of his Home United contract, Darby was heavily linked to the vacant India manager's post. However, he did not take up that job, choosing instead to join Perak despite having offers from two other Malaysian clubs and a Vietnamese club.

He led Perak to the Super Cup in 2005, a second spot in the league 2006–07 season and to the Malaysia Cup final in 2006 and an AFC quarterfinal. It was the furthest a Malaysian club had gone in Asian Competitions at that time.

In October 2008, he was appointed as Thailand coach and worked together with Peter Reid who was appointed Thailand Manager in August. He would stay on as coach to the newly appointed Bryan Robson and as the U-23 Team Coach, after previous coach Peter Reid left to become Coach at Stoke City. In 2012, he spent a year as a coaching consultant in Asia for EPL club Everton and as a football advisor to the Manipur government in India.

In September 2013, Darby was appointed as Coach for Kelantan FC in the Malaysian Super league (MSL) He was familiar with Malaysian football as he previously coached Johor and Perak. He coached Mumbai FC in 2014 in the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) including players such as Nikolas Anelka, Freddie Ljungberg and Manuel Friedriche.

In 2015, he was appointed as Technical Director of the Laos Football Federation and later as National Coach preparing for the 2018 World Cup Qualifiers. In this time Laos obtained its first World Cup points and its highest ever FIFA ranking.

COMMENT

By Tony Mariadass

 Let’s look at the bigger picture

Sports leaders, officials and players alike, should concentrate on the more urgent need how to assist and combat the Covid 19 pandemic, rather than all the hullabaloo about qualifications to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Just allow the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Federations (IFs) resolve the issue for the qualifications and the new dates of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

After all, they are elected bodies to handle the Games and various sports with the interest of all affiliates, and as parent bodies, all can rest assured that whatever decision they take, will be in the best interest of all and in all fairness for level-playing field for all.

There was so much hue and cry about athletes who have qualified for the Olympics, may have to start all over again, if IOC starts qualifications at ‘Zero’.

But IOC after deciding to postpone the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to 2021 last week, went on to decide that athletes who have already qualified before the decision to postpone, will keep their places for the Games.

Around 57 per cent of 11,000 scheduled participants for Tokyo have already qualified.

Now the focus has shifted on the many qualifying tournaments which had to be postponed because of the deadly disease which has gripped the world.

The 33 sports that make up the Summer Olympics - 33 international sports federations must now adapt to the new timing of the Games.

While in some sports, this will be simpler than others, there needs to be proper planning and end before a specified period before the Games.

Questions like ranking will be utmost of the minds of many but it must be underlined that while rankings may change soon, current qualifiers on the present ranking must retain their slots and the rest filled up by those who make the cut later according to the total number allocated for each sport for the Games.

 It is in these trying times that IOC president Thomas Bach, has called for full commitment, understanding, cooperation, tolerance, sacrifices and compromises, from all to ensure that the Games will be held at the highest quality it is known for.

A decision on the exact dates of the Games next year, which will still be known at 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will be made soon, before the international Federations will have to start planning their qualifying tournaments, many of which have been postponed.

A great deal of adjustments need to be done in planning their calendar and one option will be to have their annual world championships for 2020 be combined to 2021 to just have one championship.

All IFs normally have a four-year cycle calendar and this has to relooked and reorganised.

A taskforce called "Here We Go", comprising members of the IOC Coordination Commission and the Organising Committee has been established to navigate the complicated challenges stemming from the first postponement of the Games in history.

Bach had said: “It’s a huge jigsaw puzzle and every piece has to fit. If one piece is taken out it can destroy it. The Games have never been postponed before. There is no blueprint.”

There are more issues than just qualifying status where host Japan is going to suffer economically, face logistics issues, financial organisational losses and many more issues ranging from sponsorship to broadcasting.

The use of the Olympic Village and other venues will have to be renegotiated for the Games.

All of that projected revenue — at least for 2020 — is gone. And some of the money the local government had already spent to host the Games this summer might be needed in 2021, to do it all over again.

With so many pressing issues looming over the Games, the last thing we need is for Malaysians harping on qualifying issues.

Just wait for the decisions and work towards it. With ample time before the Games, athletes should use it to their advantage.

Talk about qualified athletes being a year older too should not arise because the younger athletes can use it to the advantage to gain more experience and maturity, while the older athletes will just have to work doubly hard to be in prime condition.

In any case, the Olympics always see the athletes at their best and if one needs to reschedule their training programme, so it be. It is a small sacrifice to compete in the Olympics which is the dream of any athlete.

The coaches have to think out of the box to prepare their athletes to be at their optimum, while this is the time for the National Sports Institute (ISN) to proof their real quality and assist the athletes to prepare themselves to the best.

After all, only 12 Malaysian athletes have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics so far, although the OCM have a target of sending a contingent of 30-35 athletes to Japan.  

As compared to the bigger nation, Malaysia’s contingent is just a drop in the ocean and it better we stop nagging over petty issues and look at the bigger picture to make use of the situation to make a bigger impact in Tokyo next year.

On the home front, why are we making an issue of the age limit for the Johor Malaysia Games (SUKMA) if it held next year.

It is an unpreceded situation to have to postpone the Games, thus just allow the age qualification for this year to be carried forward to next year, so has allow the athletes who have been training for at least two years the opportunity to compete.

Don’t let pettiness kill sports. 

Don't complain, just get ready

A staff walks past the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games mascots, M a press conference at the Tokyo 2020 headquarters in Tokyo. - AFP

By Tony Mariadass - April 1, 2020 @ 9:17am

Sports leaders, officials and players alike should concentrate on the more urgent need of overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic rather than the hullabaloo of Olympic qualifications.

Just let the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and international federations resolve the qualification issues. Already, IOC have set the new Olympics dates (July 23-Aug 8, 2021).

After all, they are the elected bodies to handle the Games in the best interest of all the affiliates.

Following the Olympics postponement, there has been much hue and cry about athletes who have qualified for the Olympics but may have to start all over again, if IOC start qualifications at “zero”.

To this, the IOC replied that those who have qualified earlier, will keep their places for the Games. Around 57 per cent of the 11,000 scheduled participants have already qualified.

Now, the focus has shifted to the many qualifying tournaments which had to be postponed because of the coronavirus plague.

Thirty-three international sports federations must now adapt to the new timing of the Games.

Questions like “what about world rankings?” will be on the minds of many.

It must be stressed that while rankings may change soon, those who have already qualified, must retain their slots and the rest filled up by those who make the cut based on the total number allocated for each sport for the Games.

A great deal of adjustments needs to be done in planning the international federations’ calendars. One option will be to have their annual world championships for 2020 be combined into 2021.

All international federations normally have four-year cycle calendars, and this has to be reorganised.

A taskforce called “Here We Go”, comprising members of the IOC Coordination Commission and Organising Committee, will navigate the complicated challenges.

There are more grim issues than just Olympics qualifying as host Japan is going to suffer economically, face logistics issues, financial organisational losses, and much more.

With so many pressing problems looming over the Olympic Games, the last thing we need is for Malaysians to moan about qualifying matters.

Just wait for the decisions and work towards their goals. With ample time before the Games, athletes should use it to their advantage.

All the talk about “qualified” athletes being a year older should not arise. They will just have to continue working hard to be in prime condition. If they need to reschedule their training programme, so be it. It is a small sacrifice for the opportunity to compete in the Olympics.

The coaches have to think out of the box to prepare their athletes to be at their optimum while this is the time for the National Sports Institute to prove their ability in assisting the athletes to prepare themselves.

After all, only 12 Malaysian athletes have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics so far though the OCM hope to send a contingent of 30 to 35 athletes to Tokyo.

It is better that we stop fretting over petty issues, look at the bigger picture and emerge from the situation stronger.

On the home front, why are we making an issue of the age limit for the Johor Malaysia Games (Sukma) if it is held next year?

We are dealing with an unprecedented situation, the Sukma has to be postponed. So, just let the age qualification for this year to be carried forward to next year, this to allow the athletes who have been training for the past two years the opportunity to compete.

Don’t let pettiness kill sports.

JUST GET RID OF THIS 'VIRUS' FROM THE M-LEAGUE

 Comment

By Tony Mariadass

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the world to its knees and pay great attention to overcome the disease, to make the world a safe and free place again.

It has not spared anyone or anything in the world, including the much loved game of football, which a big industry and has a huge following.

Worldwide it has affected the game with Leagues, championships and training all coming to a halt, with no clue when it will resume or at worst scenario, see it scrapped for this season.

It is no different in Malaysia, where the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Malaysian Football League (MFL), taking a serious view where safety and lives of players, coaches, officials and fans, is bigger than the game.

With the halt of all football tournaments at all levels until further notice, with the announcement of the government on the movement control order (MCO) last week till March 31, Malaysian football is in dire straits.

By the looks of it, the MCO could well be extended or even drastic measures taken, if pleas by the Government to adhere strictly to their call to “stay at home” is not taken seriously.

While the economy and the citizens are going to suffer during this period, football is not going to be spared either.

State FAs are already thinking of players pay-cuts, complaining of loss of income having to play in empty stadiums and the tournament suspended temporarily.

While Covid-19 has been cruel to mankind, maybe it is time for FAM and MFL to do likewise to be cruel to be kind.

State FAs and clubs cannot continue to run or depend on FAM or MFL for subsidies to run their teams or each time there is ‘Force Majeure ‘or ‘Act of God’.

While some teams and players around the world are donating to help fight the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, here in Malaysia teams are using it as an excuse to cut wages of players and asking for handouts, as players’ survival is under threat.

Yes, the English Football League announced a 50 million pound (RM253) relief package to assist financially stricken clubs during the league shutdown, but it was to assist the lower division clubs.

The Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) through its president Safee Sali, has come out with a strong stand to say they do not agree with salary cut which would affect the livelihood of footballers.

Safee had said that the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) has said that there was no need for players to take a pay cut for league suspension.

He further added that pay cuts are not stated in the players’ contract.

This reminder to teams was also made by FAM secretary-general Stuart Ramalingam who said will keep a close watch.

MFL chief executive officer Datuk Ghani Hassan also issued the same warning and said they will make sure all teams adhere to the contracts of the players.

It brings us to the question of how many of the teams in the M-League are really worthy to be in the League and are financially sound.

We still have teams docked of points for failing to settle arrears of salaries and teams complaining they are not financially sound.

Another new issue is several teams are complaining that their presidents from the previous government, can no longer bring them the finance to sustain their teams.

States and clubs still depending on political connections for their funding?

How does this make the State or club worthy of managing their teams without any financially hitches?

How did these teams get approval to be in the M-League?

Thus, it has come the time to get rid of teams who do not have the means, able to manage a team professionally and who are in the game for the personal gain and glory of a few of their officials, to be shown the exit to play in the amateur League.

I have said this many times and I am stating it again - if only eight teams meet all the requirements of a professional team and can run their team like a business venture, then so be it for the M-League.

They have to start emulating Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) to become a powerhouse and put up a strong challenge in the League.

And officials who wear more than one hat in the football setup, have to make a decision where they want to be and cannot be in both place as it tantamount to conflict of interest.

Lastly, if it means FAM has to run the M-League, so be it. After all they have the staff in numbers to manage it and have done it before. It is pointless in having duplication of bodies and having conflict of interest.

Ends.