FAM: It’s just not practical

THE sports minister’s suggestion of full-time centralised training for the national team has been deemed impractical due to the demanding nature of professional football.

Not only would it deprive players from earning an income that commensurate with their ability in a free market, it would also place cash-strapped FA of Malaysia (FAM) in a bind financially if it was to take on the added responsibility of caring for a squad of 20 to 30 professional players.

FAM is already maintaining the Under-21 and Under-19 squads full-time but is leaving the door open for the national team to play in a foreign league if an offer comes in.

FAM secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad said there are too many obstacles in maintaining a full-time senior national side but welcomed Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek’s concern for the team.

“It is a dynamic idea but we have to look at many technical aspects while players are also contracted to states and clubs. If we could make this happen, then the problem of not having enough time to prepare for a competition would not arise.

“But this costs money, something which FAM does not have. To maintain a squad of professional players full-time is a burden FAM cannot take on at this point in time.

“Maybe in the future if we receive an offer for our national team to play in a foreign league, we can reconsider. But which country would accept a national team to play in its league?

“We would also have to consider the players’ needs because we are talking about their livelihoods and we would have to compensate them accordingly,” said Azzuddin after attending a luncheon hosted by a local restaurant for the national team in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

On Friday, Ahmad Shabery called on FAM to bar national players from the domestic league and send them overseas for training and matches.

National coach K. Rajagobal was cool to the idea as he fears players would lose their edge if not exposed to a competitive environment on a weekly basis.

“If you ask the players, they would rather play in the league. They have to play in the league because they need to keep alive their competitive spirit.

“If we keep them together, just training all the time in the same place, they could lose their sharpness. I need to see them play week in, week out so that I can call up players who are on-form at that particular time.

“Then if there is a break in the league, we can play a few international matches,” said Rajagobal, fresh from leading his team to triumph at the Sea Games last month.

However, FAM is set to begin discussions with its Singapore counterparts next week to allow the Under-21 team, under coach Azraai Khor Abdullah, to play in the S-League.

“After our proposal to have the Young Tigers ‘A’ team play in the Super League was shot down by several state FAs, we are forced to look at other alternatives.

“One proposal we are exploring is the possibility of this team being exposed overseas by playing in a foreign league. So far, the only league receptive to our request has been Singapore,” added Azzuddin. — NST