Corporate figure, yes, if packaged with a football man

 

Former minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who believes it’s time for a transition in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), has boldly declared that he would like to see someone outside of the sports management world helming Malaysian football, especially candidates from the corporate sector.

KJ was quoted by FMT last week to have said that “they (the corporate boys) have a commitment to management, governance and administration.”

I don’t know what century that was in, but while we are at it, why don’t we also explore the possibility of having people outside of the political world to helm this country, as non-politicians have a commitment to honesty, meritocracy and sincerity.

Still, whether warranted or not, KJ’s idea is worth pursuing, if only to a point.

KJ, who has had an inside look at the management of FAM as a deputy president, is evidently speaking about a presidential candidate who will not be functioning on a full time basis, unlike the current president, Hamidin Amin, or FIFA president Gianni Infantino whose total pay package is documented to be worth more than US$4.5 million (RM21.3 million).

Yes, with the rapid evolution of football and the industry, it has become immensely imperative for the professional sport to be managed on a full time basis, which is impossible for a corporate captain.

Nevertheless, the idea can work, but only if there is a symbiotic relationship between corporate governance and actual football management. Meaning, if we are going to bring in a corporate figure, a relative “kaki bangku” (football misfit) as president, the equation will need a powerful General Secretary who is so deeply immersed in football DNA, that he will have everything at his fingertips, except for when Malaysia will make it to the World Cup finals.

Two names come rushing to mind who fit this calibre, and can make this symbiotic relationship work like a charm. One is Windsor Paul John, who is the current general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and obviously isn’t going to give up his Asian job for FAM, which he was a part of in the ‘80s.

The other is Alex Soosay, Windsor’s predecessor at AFC. Alex has been through the whole gamut of the football ecosystem — as a former international, coach, referee, administrator, FIFA match commissioner, FIFA general coordinator and consultant to the UAE Football Association. One can’t be any more immersed in football DNA than that.

This is not a testimonial for any candidate, it’s about being clear of our concepts of football management and leadership. To put it in perspective, there are essentially two schools of thought here.

One, to have at the helm, a fulltime president who has had a football upbringing, with a good understanding of the game, its rules, its policies and the demands of the industry, one who also doubles up as a General Secretary, and importantly someone with a good rapport with FIFA, and its member associations.

This president wouldn’t want a Windsor or an Alex-type model as the General Secretary, for he knows he will be overshadowed and outplayed in all departments, by either of them.

A fulltime and hands-on president will want total control, like your Hamidin and Infantino-types, both of whom also function as “overlapping” General Secretaries.

It is quite evident that current FAM general secretary Noor Azman Rahman doesn’t enjoy the privilege of power that comes with authority over proceedings, like Kwok Kin Keng, Peter Velappan and Paul Mony Samuel, did before him.

These three football statesmen who have since passed on, put the word “General” in General-Secretary.

And there is the other option – corporate governance through a captain of an industry. This presidential-type, with little or no football DNA, will most likely run FAM like a company, with an administrative structure that would comprise a chief executive officer, general manager, chief operating officer and a chief financial officer.

I’m sure Key Performance Indices (KPI) will be put in place, together with financial accountability, lofty targets will be set, and even employment contracts reviewed and revised.

All that is well and good, but without a strong and thoroughbred football man at the helm of operations who is empowered with policy-making decisions, it will be an association that would have financial and structural stability, but still without any significant football success.

But whatever the option that is preferred, two elements need dire attention — grassroots development and the Malaysian Football League (MFL).

With the education ecosystem having all but killed the culture and growth of sports in schools, no thanks to clueless ministers over the decades, the onus of development, it would seem, falls squarely on the seemingly reluctant shoulders of the State FAs, and the professional clubs in the MFL.

In a professional layout, every club in the MFL, especially in the Malaysian Super League, should each have a football academy producing players to meet both their short- and long-term demands.

Question is, do we have such a professional layout?

But given the excruciating circumstances that have forced the national body to turn to heritage and naturalised players, whoever helms Malaysian football should look to setting up academies in every state.

If we don’t have a steady supply of good players, and if our football league keeps being an embarrassment to our nation, then it doesn’t matter who the president of FAM is, because it would only mean that we are still parked at our football cul-de-sac.

The harsh reality is that no one cares about how great an administrator a president is. All they want to see is the sport achieving noteworthy international success under his rule. In football, success is not about the Sea Games gold, or the AFF title – not when we have been to the Olympics, and won an Asian Games bronze.

To those who want the FAM hot seat, success in the Malaysian football context, is to make it to another Olympics, another Asian Games podium, and more importantly, an unprecedented appearance at the FIFA World Cup finals.

Ada Berani? - FMT

Peter Velappan(left) and Paul Mony Samuel.

 

 

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.