WILL FAM RUE THE EXIT OF BIGWIG PETER DE ROO?

Tony Mariadass

FMT

September 22, 2020 

Questions abound over the refusal of FA of Malaysia (FAM) technical director Peter de Roo to extend his contract.

His premature exit is baffling as over the past three years he played a major role in executing FAM’s Roadmap 2019-2030 that aims to transform Harimau Malaya into a force in Asian and world football.

Based on de Roo’s posting on his Facebook last week, where he announced his decision not to extend his contract which expires in December this year, it is obvious he was not ready to leave.

He wrote after his meeting with FAM president Hamidin Mohd Amin: “I say with great pain in my heart that I’m not ready to leave as it feels we are just getting started. My time with FAM has been a great journey which I thoroughly enjoyed.”

Did a conspiracy against him make it untenable for him to carry out his duties? Did the FAM have other plans? Was someone else eyeing de Roo’s job? Did de Roo decide to move on in July when he hinted that he may not extend his contract and was considering other offers?

In response, Hamidin said: “We have offered him a new contract and want him to carry on with his tasks. However, if we can’t match his offers, then we will think about alternatives.

“It is better for him to remain with us as the DNA project (vision and philosophy) is his baby, and we want this initiative to help change the landscape of Malaysian football.”

His exit could result in head of the coaching education unit, David Abela, also leaving on expiry of his contract in December. The Australian was roped in by de Roo.

Abela is back in Australia and FAM will discuss the matter with him on his return. His contract allows him to live in Australia and come to Malaysia for stints but this may prove to be an obstacle if his term is extended.

It is no secret that de Roo’s relationship with local coaches is shaky. Some disagree with his philosophy and methods and have been working against him, while others have been supportive.

Then, there are those who believe that a local coach should be the technical director.

Perhaps, a recent interview with de Roo on the View and Review (VAR) Show may give a clue about his reluctance to renew his contract.

He lamented the cancellation of youth tournaments – the President’s and Youth Cups – due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the scant attention paid by state football associations to development programmes.

It was of paramount importance for Asian football to place emphasis on development of the game to be on par or close to European standards, he said.

Local coaches were upset when he said the M-League was not up to the mark because of questionable coaching methods.

He also held firm that football decisions should be made by football experts and not by owners, presidents or members of the board whose knowledge of the game was limited.

Several names are in the mix for the technical director’s post: leading the pack is former national youth coach Ong Kim Swee, at present the assistant technical director-cum-youth development unit head.

Others include B. Sathianathan, who was sacked yesterday, two days after Selangor lost 6-1 to Johor DT, as well as Kedah’s Azaari Khor and former National Football Development Programme project director Lim Teong Kim.

Names for Coach Educator have also surfaced and in the fray are former national coach Wan Jamak Hassan, who is a FAM coaching instructor, and Penang’s former national striker C. Nadarajan, also an instructor.

To add to FAM’s woes, the head of the grassroots unit, Samuel Siew, has also quit to take up an offer in England.

An official statement from FAM on its plans following de Roo’s departure is expected this week.

Malaysian football has failed to make any impression since the late 80s despite having technical directors such as the late Richard Bates, Ronald Smith, late N. Raju, Robert Alberts, Lim Kim Chon and Fritz Schmid.

Will the next one make a difference?

 BLOG VERSION

Tony Mariadass Column Sept 19

 

Will the exit of Peter de Roo see FA of Malaysia rue?

FA of Malaysia must ensure exit of Technical Director will not derail future plans

 Is there more to it than meets the eye regarding FA of Malaysia technical director Peter de Roo’s not wanting to extend his contract after serving three years and playing a major role in the implementation of the national body’s Roadmap 2019-2030 (F:30)?

Based on the 50-year-old de Roo’s posting on his Facebook on Tuesday, after his meeting with FA of Malaysia president Hamidin Mond Amin, where he announced his decision not to extend his contract which expires in December 2020, it was obvious he was not ready to leave.

“With a heavy heart, I met with the president of the Football Association of Malaysia and told him of my decision to not extend my contract that expires at the end of 2020.

“I say this with great pain in my heart, because somehow I feel that I’m not ready to leave, as it feels we are just getting started. My time with FAM has been a great journey which I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved working with so many amazing people in Malaysian football and especially with the staff in my department. Thank you all for your love and support,” de Roo posted in his Facebook account.

So why did he decide not to extend his contract and leave prematurely?

Was there a conspiracy against him which led to him not being able to carry out his duties with all the opposition against him?

Did the FA of Malaysia have other plans? Was someone else eyeing de Roo’s job?

Did de Roo already decide to move on as there were telling signs as early as in July that he may not extend his contract and hinted he had offers from elsewhere? 

Did things eventually turn sour between the FA of Malaysia and de Roo?

The FA of Malaysia will only give an official statement next week on Roo’s departure and their future plans.

In July, when news first surfaced that de Roo, who hails from Holland, was not going to extend his contract, Hamidin had responded:

“Yes, De Roo’s contract is expiring soon. However, we have offered him a new contract, and currently both parties are in discussion.

“We want him to stay and carry on with his tasks here. However, if we can’t match his other offers, then we would think about other alternatives.

“But frankly, it is better for him to remain with us as the DNA project is his baby, and we want this initiative to help change the landscape of Malaysian football."

Roo’s departure could also result in Head of Coaching Education Unit, David Abela, who was brought in by de Roo from Australia and whose contract also expires at the end of December, is also expected to leave.

Abela is currently back in Australia, and FAM will discuss with him the situation on his return.

Abela is not based in Malaysia but his contract allows him to stay in Australia and come to Malaysia for stints. This may prove to be an obstacle, if it comes to extending his contract.

Another who also wants to exit is Sameul Siew, Head of Grassroots Unit, who has also tendered his resignation but has nothing to do with the pending departures of de Roo or Abela.

Siew is taking up an offer in England to better his career.

Back to de Roo. It is no secret that his relationship with local coaches blows hot and cold. While some are supportive of his presence, there are others who do not agree with his philosophy and methods.

Then, there are those who believe that a local coach should be the Technical Director.

There are murmurs that a group of local coaches has been critical of de Roo and working against him.

Several names have already cropped up immediately after de Roo announced he will not extend his contract. Among the favourites is former national youth coach Ong Kim Swee, who is currently the assistant technical director-cum-youth development unit head.

Other names which have also surfaced include B. Sathianathan (whose contract was supposed to end at the end of the year was unceremoniously sacked today (Monday after Selangor 6-1 defeat to Johor DT on Saturday), Kedah’s Azaari Khor and former National Football Development Programme project director, Lim Teong Kim.

Names for Coach Educator have also surfaced and one surprising candidate is former national coach Wan Jamak Hassan, who is also a coaching instructor with FAM and Penang's former national striker C. Nadarajan who is currently, also an instructor.

While de Roo is not saying anything more than what he has posted in his Facebook, his recent interview with The VAR Show - The View and Review Show (a pun on the VAR), may give a clue as to his reluctance to renew his contract because of frustrations in certain areas.

He underlined in the interview three areas in Asian football which is of utmost importance for the development of the game to be on par or close to European standards. They are:

   # Youth competition is of utmost importance and maybe with the cancellation of youth tournaments – President’s and Youth Cup - because of the Covid 19 pandemic, and minimum attention given by State FAs to youth development, de Roo’s frustration has been building up.

   #Performance of M-League is not up to what it is capable of because coaching standards generally are not up to the mark. Local coaches took offence this, but what de Roo meant was the coach education was not at its highest level to see the coaches at their best.

  #And finally de Roo strongly believes that football decisions must be made by football experts and not owners, presidents or members of the board whose knowledge of the game is very limited.

While de Roo’s departure may leave a huge void in the Malaysian coaching set-up, FAM believes that with or without De Roo, their plans will not be derailed as all plans are in place and it is just a matter of carrying it out.

Time will tell and FAM needs to be more careful and selective when they pick of their future technical directors.

Malaysia simply has had one too many come and go (both local and foreign) and Malaysian football has failed to make any impression.

Among those who have come as Technical Directors since the late 80s are the likes of the late Richard Bate, Ronald Smith, late N. Raju, Robert Alberts, Lim Kim Chon and Fritz Schmid.

Ends.

FAM MUST BE FIRM IN TRANSITION OF STATE TEAMS TO FOOTBALL CLUBS

FMT

Tony Mariadass

 September 15, 2020 7:30

 

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.

BLOG VERSION 

 

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.

SUMAREH GOES FROM HERO TO ZERO

FMT

Tony Mariadass

 September 6, 2020

 

Pahang’s national winger, Mohamadou Sumareh, has bit the hand that fed him, proving ungrateful to Pahang FA president Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah, and the player could pay dearly for this.

The Gambia-born 26-year-old has not been training with the Pahang squad for almost a month and is believed to have prematurely terminated his contract with Pahang FA.

He failed to show up for Pahang’s first match against JDT on Aug 28 when the M-League resumed after being suspended because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sumareh is said to have exercised clause 8.7 of his contract which provides for termination of the contract for non-payment of salary. It also allows him to negotiate with any new club and to be released unconditionally to the new club on a free transfer.

Sumareh has been accused of biting the hand that fed him. (Pahang FA Facebook pic)

Pahang FA say they had paid his dues on the agreed date of Aug 26. Several matters remain unclear as both parties have been keeping everything close to their chests but all indications are that this saga is not going to end soon.

Tengku Abdul Rahman, who is Pahang Tengku Muda, told FMT that although there was a delay in payment, everything has been settled with Sumareh.

“I am disappointed with Sumareh for whom we have done a great deal, including getting his Malaysian citizenship,” he said. Sumareh became a citizen in 2018 and Malaysia’s first non-heritage naturalised player.

“It is a clear show of ungratefulness by him and the manner in which he has gone about handling this situation does not portray him as a professional,’’ said Tengku Abdul Rahman.

He said: “We promised to make the delayed payment and we fulfilled our end of the bargain. If he had an issue or wanted to leave for another team, he could have waited to speak to me and left amicably. He chose not to attend training and decided to take things into his own hands.”

Tengku Abdul Rahman is determined not to let Sumareh have things easy in his move to another club.

Tengku Abdul Rahman, who helped get Malaysian citizenship for Sumareh, is disappointed with the player’s unprofessional conduct. (Pahang FA Facebook pic).

“I don’t want him after all he has done and we will do everything to make known his unprofessional conduct to the relevant authorities. We will write to the FA of Malaysia and forward the letter to the Asian Football Confederation and Fifa and let matters take its course from there,” the Pahang FA president said.

There are several twists to Sumareh’s next move.

While there is speculation that Sumareh is moving to Thailand’s Police Tero FC to play in the league which resumes later this month, it is also learnt that Muangthong FC are also pursuing him.

It is learnt that an agent, who is arranging for Sumareh to don Muangthong colours, has contacted the Pahang FA for his International Transfer Certificate and offered US$1 million as transfer fee.

Whether or not Pahang FA agree to the deal is left to be seen. Why is a transfer fee being offered, if Sumareh considers himself free from his contract with Pahang FA using clause 8.7?

It is also believed his Thailand stop is a temporary measure because he cannot move to any M-League team as there is no transfer window this season due to the league being shortened with a one-round affair.

There is also talk that Sumareh will eventually turn out for JDT.

Sumareh could have handled things in a more favourable manner and avoided tarnishing his reputation. Some are even questioning his loyalty to the national team while others are asking if he had surrendered his Gambian passport.

Pahang fans have branded him as unprofessional and ungentlemanly.

None of Pahang’s 35-man squad complained of non-payment of salary, so why did Sumareh have an issue?

Pahang coach Dollah Salleh has been Sumareh’s mentor since he coached the Police team in 2015 before moving to Perlis and then Pahang since 2017. He is equally disappointed.

“I was like a father to him and when he told me he wanted to leave Pahang, I advised him to finish the season since there were only seven more matches left. I told him to talk to Tengku and leave amicably, although his contract with Pahang was until the end of 2021,” said Dollah.

“But he chose to do otherwise and has burned his bridges and hurt people who took good care of him, especially Tengku who has delivered everything promised to him and more.

“I even protected him when he did not turn up for training for a month and told reporters that he was injured.”

Sumareh came to Malaysia when he was 12 years old with his businessman father and they settled here three years later.

A former Maz International School and Segi College student, he had his early training with the Kuala Lumpur Youth Soccer academy under Argentine coach and former Kelantan player, Luis Pablo Pozzuto.

He made his debut for Malaysia on October 12, 2018 in a friendly against Sri Lanka, coming on as a substitute and scoring his first international goal in a 4-1 victory. He has since made 19 appearances for the national team and netted six goals.

 

 

BLOG VERSION

First naturalised football player has set a bad example and his integrity is questioned.

 

PAHANG'S national winger Mohamadou Sumareh has bit the hand that fed him when he proved ungrateful to Pahang FA president Tengku Abdul Rahman Sultan Ahmad Shah, the Pahang Tengku Muda and the player could pay dearly for this. 

The 26-year-old Gambia-born, who has not been training with the Pahang squad for almost a month and failed to show up for their first match against JDT last week (Aug 28) when the M-League resumed after being suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is believed to have terminated his contract with Pahang FA prematurely.

Sumareh is said to have exercised his contract’s clause 8.7 which reads:

This contract may be terminated without any effect of any kind (either payment of compensation or imposition of sporting sanctions) if the Player does not receive his salary on more than one occasion. The Player must:

 i.  Having not paid a salary for more than one occasion, the Player shall write a letter to the Club Secretary or Manager expresses his intention to terminate the contract;

ii.  After stating his intention to terminate the contract, the Player has the right to negotiate with any new Club, without having to get permission from the current Club. In such a case, the Club shall release the Player to the New Club and release his transfer certificate (SPN) unconditionally as soon as the contract terminated and no further compensation or transfer fee may apply to new Club.

Pahang FA, however had not responded to Sumareh as they had paid his dues on the agreed date of Aug 26 and also due to Tengku Abdul Rahman not being available.

Although several matters remain unclear as both parties have been keeping everything close to their chests, all indications are that this saga is not going to end soon.

Tengku Abdul Rahman has told FMT that although there was a delay in payment, everything has been settled with Sumareh.

   “I am very disappointed with the attitude of Sumareh for whom we have done a great deal, including getting his Malaysian citizenship,” said Tengku Abdul Rahman.

Sumareh obtained his Malaysian citizenship in 2018 and became the nation's first non-heritage naturalised player.

 "It is a clear show of ungratefulness by him and the manner be which he has gone about handling this situation certainly does not portray him as a professional,'’ added Tengku Abdul Rahman.

“We had promised to make the delayed payment and we fulfilled our end of the bargain. If he had an issue or wanted to leave the team for another, he could have waited to speak to me and left amicably.

“When Matthew Davies was offered to play for JDT, he came to ask me for my advice and I told him since it will benefit his football career playing for the club which had top class facilities, was a formidable team and had ambitions, he can leave if he wants. We let him go without any conditions and neither party has hard feelings.

“However, Sumareh choose not to attend training and decided to take things into his own hands. At this stage I don’t want him too; after all he has done. We will do everything to make sure his unprofessional conduct is known to the relevant authorities.

“We will write to FA of Malaysia and forward the letter to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA. We will let matters take its course from there.”

Tengku Abdul Rahman is determined not to let Sumareh have things easy in his move to another club. And there are many twists to Sumareh’s next move.

While there is speculation that Sumareh is moving to Thailand’s Police Tero FC to play in the league which resumes later this month, it is also learnt that Muangthong FC are also pursuing him.

It is reliably learnt that an agent who is arranging for Sumareh to don Muangthong colours, has contacted the Pahang FA for his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and offered US$1 million as transfer fee.

Whether or not Pahang FA agree to the deal is left to be seen, but why is a transfer fee being offered, if Sumareh considers himself free from his contract with Pahang FA using clause 8.7?

  It is also believed his Thailand stop is a transit stop, as he cannot move to any M-League team as there is no transfer window this season because the league has been shortened with only a one-round affair.

There is also talk that Sumareh will eventually turnout for JDT.

Sumareh could have handled things in a more favourable manner and avoided tarnishing his image and reputation.

There are some who are even questioning his loyalty to the national team, while others are asking if he had really surrendered his Gambian passport.

Pahang fans have branded him as unprofessional and ungentlemanly.

Pahang has a 35-man squad but none of the players had complained of non-payment, so why Sumareh had an issue.

Pahang coach Dollah Salleh, who has been Sumareh’s mentor since the latter coached the Police team in 2015 before moving to Perlis and then Pahang since 2017, is equally disappointed.

“I was like a father to him and when he told me he wanted to leave Pahang, I advised him to finish the season since there were only seven more matches left in the M-League, and then talk to Tengku and leave amicably, although his contract with Pahang was until he end of 2021,” said Dollah.

“But he chose to do otherwise and has burned his bridges and hurt people who took good care of him, especially Tengku who has delivered everything promised to him and more.

“It has just dawned on me that Sumareh has made up his mind to leave Pahang. I even protected him when he did not turn up for training for a month and told reporters that he was injured.”

Sumareh came to Malaysia when he was 12 years old following his father who worked as a businessman and began living here three years later.

Sumareh, a former Maz International School and Segi College student, had his early training when a teenager with the Kuala Lumpur Youth Soccer (KLYS) academy under Argentine coach and former Kelantan player, Luis Pablo Pozzuto.

 

He made his debut on 12 October 2018, in a warm-up match against Sri Lanka. In that match, he came on as a substitute and scored his first international goal in a 4-1 victory. He has since made 19 appearances for the national team and netted six goals.

 

Ends.

REUNION SPARKS IDEA TO SET UP TRAINING CENTRE IN KKB

Tony Mariadass

After 30 years three best 800m runners of the 80s, B. Rajkumar, R. Haridas and Samsom Vallabouy, met up for a nostalgic reunion in Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) over the weekend recently.

The trio, together with three other Perak state runners – middle-distance runner David Anthony, Victor Rayapan - long distance runner (1,500m and 5,00m), and hurdler Tamil Chelvam (400m hurdles), who joined the reunion together with former athlete, coach and administrator, M. Latchumanan, at Rajkumar’s chalet resort in KKB.

Tamil is currently the president of the Perak Masters Athletics Association (PMAA), Samson the vice-president and Latchumanan the secretary.

The KKB reunion- from left to right Victor Rayapan Tamil Chelvam M. Latchumanan B. Rajkumar David Anthony R. Haridas and Samson Vallabuoy

“This is a rare gathering after 30 years as we spent time reminiscing the glorious days when middle distance running was so keenly competed and of a high standard. We were a feared lot in the region” said the 58-year-old Haridas, 58, who won the AFT bronze medal in the 800m in 1987 and was a national athlete from 1982 to 1989.

“It was great to spend a day talking about the good old days and catching up with each other’s progress in life.”

All three who had former national middle distance coach, A. Trapadi, handle them, also made a call to him to inform him of their reunion.

Trapadi spoke to all three of them and so happy that the three had kept in touch and wished them all well.

In a text message sent to Rajkumar after the phone call, Trapadi wrote: “Raj, I feel very happy to see all three of you together. Keep the friendship for life. I am proud of you all being successful in athletics and in your chosen career. My regards to both of them. Hope to meet all of you sometime.”

“We will have another gathering soon and will definitely have our coach Trapadi present,” said Rajkumar.

The top 800m runners of the 80s from left Haridas, Rajkumar and Samson

David Anthony said: “This is indeed a rare honour to be among three legends of middle distance runners.

“I used to compete against them in local and State meets and became good friends. But I left after my athletics career to work in Singapore for almost a decade.

“I returned to my hometown in Ipoh after that, but while I meet the others in Ipoh regularly, this is this first time I am meeting Rajkumar, Haridas and Samson together. It was simply great to meet them after all these years and we had a lot of catching up to do.

“I will always remember this day forever.” 

While reminiscing the good old times, all of them unanimously decided they want to give back to the sports and groom middle and long distance runners.

“We have decided that we want to organise a middle-distance runners Kem Bakat (Talent Camp) to select top athletes in view of setting up a permanent training centre,” said Rajkumar the 55-year-old, former Asian champion, who broke the national men’s 800m record by clocking 1:47.37 to win the gold medal in the Asian Track and Field (ATF) Championships in Jakarta in 1985 and is holds the current national record after 35 years.

 “This is the fourth time I am offering to assist to set up a training centre in Kuala Kubu Bharu (KKB) and I hope this time around MAF will respond and work with us,” said Rajkumar, who was born and bred in this small, quiet and sleepy town.

“KKB is scenic and quiet place ideal for training, has all the facilities and the hilly terrain here is ideal for middle distance training. After all, I was spotted and trained here by coach Trapadi and did well for a small town boy.

“Trapadi, the former national coach is retired now and will be our technical advisor and we have another two IAAF certified coaches to assist, besides all of us, to groom the budding athletes.”

Rajkumar first offered his services and his hostel accommodation, when he revived and organised road relay the inaugural KKB 21km Road Relay in 2016.

He then offered his services again last year, to assist national middle distance runner Savinder Kaur, upon her return from Kenya, where she had gone for a five-week training stint after securing enough funds.

Then, Rajkumar and two other former national athletes Samret Singh (hammer thrower) and Papu Ignatius (long distance runner and former national coach), who shone in the golden days of Malaysian athletics, expressed their interest to set up grassroots centres in KKB, Kuala Lumpur and Penang respectively, and again there was no response from MAF or the National Sports Council (NSC).

“I don’t know why, but athletics officials at national or state are not keen to take up our offer to assist and give back to the sports. I have made offer in my State in Perak, but it has fallen deaf ears,” said the 54-year Samson who has competed set the Sea Games record in 1991 in his second Games and has experience of competing at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, World championship in Tokyo in 1991 and Asian Track and Field championship (ATF) in 1989 and 1991.

“I now assist young athletes through programmes organised by my club - Panthers Athletics Club headed by former national coach K. Jayabalan in Ipoh - and also the PMAA.

“But KKB is an ideal place to set up the training centre and we have decided we will do hope we can get some assistance or collaboration from the Malaysian Athletics Federation (MAF), National Sports Council (NSC) or even Perak AA MAF.”

Samson who is former national athlete from 1984 to 1991, who is married to former national middle distance star, Josephine Mary, said that although he is based in Ipoh, he is doing some work around KKB and will be staying at least three days a week in KKB.

“Josephine is also keen to assist in the training camp, as she will be here with me too,” said Samson, whose 20-year daughter Shereen is also a national middle distance runner who is currently undergoing her four-year degree in Physical Education at the Winona State University (WSU), Minnesota.

Haridas, who is running a sports shop business for the last 25 years, said he was prepared to come to KKB a few days each week to assist in the training centre.

“I am a self-trained athlete from Mentakab, who started running around on a beaten-up 200m track in the estates. I wasted two years (from 17-years-old to 19) running in long distance events (1,500m and 5,000m),” recalled Haridas.

“Finally, when I tired the 800m for the first time at the Pahang Open meet, I broke the state record and then on went to become a national athlete, where I finally had a coach in Trapadi,” said Haridas.

“Many a talent, especially in middle distance where we find very few athletes these days, have not been discovered or not nurtured to become champions. This is where we hope to play a role and regain the glorious days of middle-distance runners like us,” said Haridas who is known of playing the ‘rabbit’ at the ATF in Jakarta in 1985, where Rajkumar not only won the race, but in record time.

Recalling the race strategy, Haridas said: “Both of us were sub 1:50 runners and had a chance to win. But team manager Dr M. Jegathesan felt that we needed a race strategic to ensure we won the gold medal and felt that Rakjumar had a better chance to win the race. He asked me to run a consistent run to time 50.5 sec for the first 400m to pull the other potential winners in the race.

Newspaper picture of the keen rivalary between Rajkumar and Haridas who won this 800m race at the 1987 MAAU national meet in Kota Kinabalu.

“I was not at all disappointed with the decision because it was decision made for Malaysia to win the gold and I am glad that I played the role.”

Haridas finished the race fourth and went to win the bronze in the following ATF meet 1987.

Rajkumar and his mates, hopes that the MAF, president, Datuk S.M. Muthu, NSC or even Perak AA, will take up his offer to set up a training centre in KKB.

Rajkumar said if the offer is not taken up or support given by the relevant parties, he is just going to look for one or two potential athletes and train them on his own with the hope to make the champions one day.

Ends.