An Evening Chat.

Credit to the photographer.

I had an interesting conversation with a close friend of mine earlier this evening. He is a fan of Selangor FA and Malaysia Football in general since the 1970's. We both talked the past, present and future of this sport. The ups and down of the beautiful game. There were many interesting points came up here and there as well.

He told me back in the day late 1980's early 1990's period it was a bad time for Malaysian football in general. Bribery cases appeared left and right, players selling games and so on. Back in the day there was this goalkeeper who played for Selangor FA who was under no pressure, punched the ball into the opponents path and scored. Resulted Selangor losing a final and that goalkeeper being banned. Another story he told was a top player didn't play up to his level was caught red handed with the money to sell the game was inside his football boots.

Today there are still stories of players selling games but not as much as those days he said. Today it's much more tamed and controlled better according to my friend. So there is something right going on.

I realized that back in the day gambling companies used to sponsor the sport. Now, no more due to many new regulations. He said bookies were the major players. They are willing to go some extreme lengths to fix matches. There might be some among us. Current Lions XII coach V. Sundramoorthy can tell you that personally, my friend said. I personally never knew this. Forgive me for not knowing this til today.

Back in the day V. Sundramoorthy was for one of our Malaysian teams. During an away game at the team hotel, he was attacked by several men keen to take him out of an important game. He was hit on the leg but manage to evade his attackers thanks to his teammate. I'm clearly shocked listening to this. The only thing good came out of this is the humanity of his teammate to help him out and his safety. Some people in this world do go to extreme length to do bad things in the name of money.

I tried to google all of the stories only a few came up, I need to dig deeper to know how bad it was back then. Just to know if we have progressed since those days. I'll post them up if I find them.

During the 70's, 80's and early 90's there were a handful of foreign coaches coached our national team. But due to the improper conduct of upper management. Our name was or stilled trashed by those above across the world. Then how to maju lah? When upper management disturbs the current work of the head coach or team manager and players.

Melaka FA a long time ago according to my friend was a team down on their luck. Until a head coach steps in and somehow guide the club into a respectable upper mid table side. Until 'those people' came down to the field and disturbs the rhythm of the dance. These people are 'associated' with the club, when they are winning it seems. The head coach well he quitted the club due to those people who disrupt his work.

Lee Chong Wei, Nicol David and Azizul Awang. What makes these three athletes similar to each other? Other than their success in their respective sports. No one gets other than they themselves gets involve in how they play their sport. In football, there are people from the above management who gets their hands into the cookie jar and mess it all up for everyone.

Let the coaching staff, players do their jobs and let football club management do their jobs, respectively.

The day Football Association of Malaysia moves forward is when they cut ties which those who are currently up there in the hierarchy.

Ownership in Malaysia Football Clubs are an interesting issue here in Malaysia. I believe that we should follow the German way. i.e.

"The basis of the German model is the 50+1 rule whereby a minimum of 51% of the club must be owned by club members. This still allows for considerable investment opportunities for private business to invest while preventing them from having overall control of the direction of the club. A Bundesliga club board is made up of delegates selected by the shareholders. That way the supporter membership associations or Mutterveiren have a direct say on the management of the club." via http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2010/03/11/fan-ownership-the-bundesliga-model/ do take a look at it.

In that article the writer explains the pros and cons of this system. As a whole it's benefits does outweighs the loss.


My friend told be back in the late 1980's Kuala Lumpur FA was one of the top clubs, the third team to have won the Malaysia Cup back to back three times and other domestic tittles. The club was owned by the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur who had a lot of money to spend back then. And was quite influential in raising the profile of KLFA. But over the decade the money dried up and eventually fans weren't interested any more due to results and now they are facing trouble times. Recently after 32 games they just won their 1st game, after 32 matches. He told me back than it was harder to get into the KL team than the national team, imagined that.

The debate of ownership of clubs is debatable. All in all management of the club should always evaluate the club's long term sustainability.

Well that's it for now.

Will want to write about on how to get the young generation hooked on our football. WE NEED FANS!