Act before it's too late (08/04/1998 - The Malay Mail)

Publication : MM
Date : 08/04/1998
Headline : Act before it's too late


HAVING seen their authority kicked in the face, the Kuala Lumpur FA must
show they have the firmness to deal with issues.
Though Monday's boycott of training by their Premier One team was seemed
to be resolved, the team management, especially, cannot just let it blow
over.
What assurance is there that it will not happen again?
By all counts, the players were wrong in boycotting training and going
instead to see KLFA president Datuk Seri Megat Junid Megat Ayob to voice
their unhappiness and grievances.
No matter what their reasons for snubbing coach Chow Kwai Lam (above),
their action in staying away from training cannot be condoned or
justified.
The KLFA will only be showing their weak side if they allow the matter
to be swept under the carpet.
The players have shown an open defiance of Kwai Lam and, unless action
is taken, the credibility of the latter is on the line.
Above all, the "rebels" did not show respect for the management
committee to whom they should have brought their grievances.
Although the players claimed that the management committee comprised
mainly of officials involved with the team, there are others who are not
linked directly.
One of them is Datuk Wan Adli Datuk Wan Ibrahim, the chairman of the
management committee and vice-president of KLFA.
Even if the players felt they had no other alternatives but to approach
Megat Junid, they should have done so after training.
The KLFA should issue all the players involved a show-cause letter and,
if they do not get a satisfactory reply, a fine be slapped on them for
their unbecoming action.
The ring leaders or instigators should be identified and suspended.
There were claims that not all the players were in favour of the
boycott, but they had to follow the majority.
But that is no excuse. Doesn't every player have his own mind?
At least, those not in favour of the boycott should have tipped off the
team officials.
The two foreign players who followed suit should also be brought to
book. As foreigners hired to help uplift the game in the country, they are
not here to play politics.
The KLFA should take a cue from the Olympics 2000 management committee
who had shown no hesitation in suspending three players for indiscipline.
No one is indispensable. The management committee took the decision
despite the key trio being involved in the M-League qualifying tournament.
It is about time the management committees of our soccer teams take a
stern stand on discipline of players in the best interest of the game.
Senior or junior, every player should have respect for officialdom and
for law and order on and off the field. Those guilty of breach of conduct,
no matter to what degree, should be dealt with accordingly.
It is hoped that the KLFA will not take the recent flare-up lightly.
Appropriate action has to be taken before the rot sets in.
Kuala Lumpur, once the kings of Malaysian soccer, are now back to the
days of struggle. But don't let players make a mockery of the association
who used to take pride in being a role model.

Stand up for their rights (The Malay Mail)

MALAYSIAN footballers are paying a heavy price for not knowing their
rights.
 Despite the fact that Malaysian soccer has gone professional for several
years now, there are still many cases of players being exploited by State
FAs.
 There are many players without a job this season because they have been
dropped despite having existing contracts. And these are men whose
livelihood is playing football.
 These players also have had their contracts terminated without being
compensated.
 Basically, this is the consequence of players not knowing their rights
and not having adequate protection as a result. This, despite having the
Players' Status Committee, setup by the FA of Malaysia, to turn to.
 As a result, more State FAs are acting unprofessionally, treating the
players like so much extra baggage when it suits them.
 States have the right to terminate contracts, but in most cases they do
not offer any compensation which is the player's right.
 Not many players are aware that the FAs have to honour the contract up
to a certain point and not deny the player his dues.
 For example, an injured player is allowed to be absent from training and
from performing his obligations under the agreement, for a period stated
in the medical certificate up to 30 days, during which time he shall be
paid full salary.
 In his absence for the next 60 days, he shall be entitled to 50 per cent
of his basic salary.
 Of late, many States have terminated the contracts of players because
they want to effect changes to the team.
 The FAs have the right to make changes, but proper procedure must be
followed. The players should not be exploited in the process.
 But more often than not, players are dropped without any discussion or
an amicable settlement.
 Sadly, the players, ignorant of their rights, do nothing about it and
start looking for another team to join.
 And if they subsequently decide to seek compensation, the FAs throw the
book at them, saying the players, in not attending training, had
effectively failed to fulfil their contracts.
 There are players who know their rights and have collected settlements
for the termination of their contracts from the State FA or through the
Players' Status Commit- tee, but they are a minority.
 Players have to learn to protect their own rights. Nobody else will.

CONDITIONS OF THE TERMINATION CLAUSE
 a) The agreement expires and ceases to have any force on 31st December
of each year under Clause I (which is the period of the contract) unless
renewed or extended for a further period.or
 b) The agreement may be terminated at any time by mutual consent of the
State FA and the player, subject to terms and conditions agreed between
them.
 c) The agreement may also be terminated by the State FA by giving one
month's notice or one month's salary in lieu of such notice.
 d) The agreement many be terminated by the State FA without notice if
the Player is dismissed summarily under Clause 4 (Discipline and
Disciplinary reasons as listed in the contract) or ...
 1) If the player is suspended from playing football for more than three
months;
 2) If the State FA's medical officer certifies that the player is
permanently disabled;
 3) If the medical officer certifies that the player is unfit to play for
a period of 90 days or more.
                               (END)

Get rid of the dole mentality! (The Malay Mail)

AS long as State FAs depend on handouts from the FA of Malaysia to run
their associations, Malaysian soccer is going to take a long time to reach
even Asian standards.
It was typical of the State FAs to declare they were eagerly awaiting
Feb 8 when FAM will announce the grant for the new season.
They hope the present RM750,000 will be increased to more than RM1
million as the national body have secured a RM175 million five-year
sponsorship deal with Dunhill.
It is fine for FAM to assist their affiliates but it is not fine for the
State FAs to depend solely on the grant to plan their season.
The grant was RM300,000 in the late 80s during the semi-professional
stage but has over the years reached RM750,000.
Some State FAs have spent the money wisely but many have wasted it on
luxuries and unnecessary things.
The grant also includes money for development but many States have
either neglected the area or have just organised age-group tournaments or
paid the expenses of youth teams to national tournaments and called it
development.
It is about time FAM thought about making State FAs stand on their own
feet and stop giving them big handouts.
The professional concept has to enforced and there is no room for
charity.
Let the State FAs who have strong foundations and professional setups
play in the main league while the inefficient and wasteful ones play in an
amateur league until they are ready to move up.
Unless and until State FAs are prepared to run their association like a
business venture, they should stay out of professional soccer.
FAM can still help out the States, but with lesser amounts to teams who
are not working towards professionalism.
FAM should also consider giving grants, if they insist on giving it,
based on the team's previous season's finishing in the League.
At least this way, the grant will be like a reward for reaching a
certain standard.
FAM would be spending the money better by being directly involved at the
schools level where a solid foundation can be laid for the future.
Currently, State FAs are expected to work with their State School Sports
Council, but hardly any concrete work is done.
Many of their involvments stop at giving small grants to the Sports
Council.
The problems states had when they got RM700,000 were no different from
when they got RM300,000.
And it will not be any different when RM1 million or even more is doled
out.
Malaysia is the envy of many a country, including Australia who came so
close to qualifying for the World Cup this year.
They too have a professional league but their clubs have to fend for
themselves.
Most Australian players in their National League are paid much less than
in Malaysia and yet, they have a better national team.
The underlying factor is a professional approach at all levels, emphasis
on development and having a common goal and not having individual agendas.
We can only hope at least this year, with the prevailing economic
situation, the State FAs will spend the grant prudently.
                            (END)

Have faith! (The Malay Mail)

A TOP Ethiopian official, whose country has produced some of the world's
finest distance runners, urged Malaysia to have more confidence in local
coaches.
 Ferrou Kidane, director of the International Olympic Council (IOC)
Executive Office of the President and their Department of International
Cooperation and Communication, made this call in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
 In recent years, Malaysia have imported more than a 100 foreign coaches
as part of the Commonwealth Games preparations.
 Kidane's timely call for a show of faith in local coaches received warm
applause from officials of the various sport associations, the Education
Ministry, Sports Ministry and National Sports Council (NSC).
 A former teacher turned journalist who worked for the United Nations for
nearly 14 years, Kidane has been with the Olympic Movement since 1989.
 "The problem with developing countries is that we have no confidence in
ourselves," he said.
 "And it's about time local coaches are given due prominence and
recognition.
 "I have seen many developing countries whose teams had done well to
qualify for the soccer World Cup. But at the Finals, it is foreigners who
handle the teams.
 "The local coaches did all the groundwork and, in many instances, seen
their teams through to the Finals.
 "But four to five months before the World Cup, the local coaches
suddenly become not good enough and foreign coaches are hired.
 "As long as we have this mentality, sports in developing countries will
always be in the backwaters," he said.
 Kidane said coaches from developing countries have proven to be more
than competent in several sports.
 "For instance, Malaysia's badminton coaches will have a better knowledge
of the game than most of their foreign counterparts.
 "While it is good to learn from foreign coaches, we cannot depend on
them forever. We have to stand on our own feet sooner or later," said
Kidane.
 The topics discussed at the forum included the Olympic Movement, the
development of physical education and sports in Malaysia, and co-operation
among national sport organisations.
 The delegates also touched on sports administration, technical
assistance and international relations.
 Among the speakers were FAM general secretary Datuk Paul Mony, Physical
Education and Fitness Association of Malaysia president Dr Leonard de
Vires and Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) secretary-general Aziz
Mohamad.
                              (END)

So dumb! (The Malay Mail)

THE Malaysian Amateur Athletic Union (MAAU) are off and running again -
flying in the face of commonsense.
 The MAAU intend to go ahead with a RM1 million to RM1.5 million show
when everybody else is counting every sen and cutting costs.
 The MAAU want to hold a big party - a grand Malaysian Open on May 21-24
at the Main Stadium in Bukit Jalil - as a prelude to the Commonwealth
Games.
 Typically, MAAU do not have the funds and are banking on Sukom Ninety
Eight Berhad, the Games organisers, to provide the money.
 MAAU, in justifying the move, give several reasons which ring hollow
when the nation is grappling with an economic crisis.
 MAAU claim they need to stage the bash because it is their 40th
anniversary.
 The other reasons: Sukom can use the event to assess whether the track
is up to standards; a good show is essential for the image of the country
and that at least 27 countries will attend to make it the biggest ever
athletics meet.
 The big budget, explain MAAU, is because they will pay for the food and
accommodation of the visiting athletes.
 The MAAU are even considering getting sponsors to fork out big bucks as
appearance fees to stars like Donovan Bailey, Jonathan Edwards and Cathy
Freeman.
 It really makes nonsense of the Government's austerity drive and
constant reminders not to waste money.
 Why pay so much to watch Bailey and company when they will be in KL for
the Commonwealth Games just four months later?
 Do MAAU really need world class athletes to test the facilities at the
stadium?
 In contrast, the Badminton Association of Malaysia, a much richer and
more successful sports body, are considering cancelling this year's
Malaysian Open to save money.
 And the highly successful and well organised Malaysian Tenpin Bowling
Congress (MTBC), who have been given the flexibility by the Sports
Ministry to spend if necessary, are reducing their budget.
 Though the MTBC have asked participating teams of the Commonwealth Games
to compete in their Malaysian Open in March at Sunway Pyramid, the venue
of the Games, they will have to foot their own expenses.
 National coach Sid Allen said: "Why should we pay for their presence
here when they want to familiarise themselves for the Commonwealth Games?
 "We already know the standards of our rivals and where we stand against
them. There is little advantage for us in bringing them here to compete in
the Malaysian Open.
 "Besides, they might not be at their best and we may end up gaining
nothing from their presence.
 "Instead, it will be the visiting bowlers who will benefit by competing
here."
 As usual, it takes someone else to show the MAAU the error of their
ways, just like when they lost their Genting corporate partner. Some
things never change.
                              (END)

Nomad Tan seeking a break (The Malay Mail)

NEW Kuala Lumpur signing Tan Cheng Hoe is on a mission to resurrect his
soccer career.
 Cheng Hoe, who hails from Alor Star, has been a nomad of the M-League
the past four years since injuring his right knee while with Kedah in
1993.
 He in fact sufferred the injury in 1991 but continued playing until it
took a turn for the worse in 1993.
 He went for an operation that year but was relegated to the Kedah back-
up team, Langkasuka, who played in the Amateur League for two years (1994
and 1995).
 Cheng Hoe's desire to play in the M-League saw him join Perlis in 1996
but he did not see much action.
 Frustrated, the 29-year-old moved over to Penang last season but here
too he did not get to play regularly.
 It was then that he decided to try his luck with KL this season and
coach Chow Kwai Lam was impressed enough to give him a one-year contract.
 "The last four years have been really frustrating for me as I had to
move from team to team," said Cheng Hoe, who is basically a rightback also
plays in midfield.
 "My best years were under former Kedah coach Milous Kvacek from 1989 to
1990 as I was a regular and played in two Malaysia Cup finals. I collected
a winners' medal in 1990 when we beat Singapore.
 "I want to hit that form again and I believe I have what it takes. And I
have recovered from my injury. All I need is regular matches to regain my
confidence.
 "I worked very hard but did not get the opportunity to play regularly.
 "I hope things will change with KL although I realise the competition
for a first choice slot is stiff.
 "But I am prepared for the challenge. I see my stint with KL as a last
chance to redeem myself and end my career on a high note," said Cheng Hoe
who played for the national second team in two tournaments -  in Bangkok
(1988) and Nepal (1991).
                                (END)

Not professional enough (The Malay Mail)

SOCCER in the country has gone fully professsional since 1994 but not a
season has kicked off without controversies.
It often involves the movements of players and their contracts, leading
to the State FAs crying foul.
Who is to blame? The players themselves and the State FAs.
In fact, both parties deserve each other for making a mockery of the M-
League. While most of the players are ignorant of their rights as
professionals, the State FAs are of no help at all - being equally
ignorant too.
In the end, both the players and States FAs end up blaming each other
for the mess they created.
The root of the problem is that neither the players nor the State FAs
are professional enough in dealing with their jobs.
While the players are to be blamed for making use of State FAs to mark
up their value by offering their services to every other team, aren't the
State FAs suckers enough to be used by them?
State FAs should make players sign letters of intent instead of verbal
agreements which are not binding.
State FAs should know the types of players they want and not just
entertain every other fella who walks through their doors.
While it is unethical of players to play the waiting game for the best
offers, the State FAs too should not make "insulting offers" to the
players.
You have State FAs offering one-year contracts using the current
economic situation as an excuse and another reason that they are not sure
if their presidents would still be around next year.
As State FAs safeguard their interest, the welfare of the players should
also be considered.
Can the players be blamed if they shop around for more secure contracts?
After all, this is their profession and their families depend on it.
Many have given up stable and comfortable jobs to turn professional as
required by the FA of Malaysia.
And it is not surprising to hear of professional players who do not even
have copies of the contracts!
Many are still asked to sign pieces of papers where the only clear print
is the salaries.
The players themselves should be blamed for signing the contracts
blindly with the State FAs equally guilty of the manner they obtain the
signatures.
Then, we have players who still have existing contracts from the
previous year, but find themselves dropped.
While both parties can come to a settlement for termination of
contracts, many players just do not know what to do and stop attending
trainings, giving  the State FAs an excuse to drop them.
Little wonder then, controversy after controversy would litter the start
of each season because noboby seems to understand the mechanics of the
professional world.
The FA of Malaysia have done their best to educate the State FAs, the
officials and the players but somehow they don't seem to learn.
Even team management is far from professional and it is not surprising
to see the standards of the game correspond accordingly - mediocrity at
best.
It is about time both State FAs and players act more professionally to
ensure that the game is not turned into a circus.
And everything is still very amateurish.
                               (END)