Oct 18 2008, 11:13 AM
QUOTE(Duke Red @ Oct 18 2008, 08:57 AM)
Yes Sierra Leone did field a bunch of kids which is why we didn't get to see Mohammad Kallon. As I have mentioned earlier, most of the teams in the tournament are fielding their youth sides including Mozambique, the highest ranked team in the tournament at no.100 on the FIFA list. They brought their U20 team with them. This is a tournament we should win considering we have so many seasoned full internationals in the squad.
The state of the pitch is abysmal. Here we are trying to raise the quality of football in the country by hosting an international tournament and we don't even bother looking after the surface on which the whole tournament is played on? Doesn't it suggest that the FAM don't even take this tournament seriously? What's going to happen the next time round? The prestige (if there is any left) of the tournament will continue to slide and teams will start sending their school teams next.
Talking about using that term loosely...The state of the pitch is abysmal. Here we are trying to raise the quality of football in the country by hosting an international tournament and we don't even bother looking after the surface on which the whole tournament is played on? Doesn't it suggest that the FAM don't even take this tournament seriously? What's going to happen the next time round? The prestige (if there is any left) of the tournament will continue to slide and teams will start sending their school teams next.
The thing is that the Pestabola Merdeka as it was known as was one of the most prestigious football tournament in Asia, the fact that it has descend to this is not a good thing at all. I am not sure what is the problem, the players? The administration? Or the foreign football leagues which has dominated TV. The thing is that It is a bit of everything.
I've read that the super league will ban club sides from entering it, even if they have qualify for it through promotion, the reason? The state sides do not wished to be whipped by club sides who are more professional in their set up and receive less fundings. HOw many times have we read that the state sides owe salary to the players? It's almost a yearly thing, at least a couple of state side will make the papers with this. It is saddening that in a country that loves football and proud of our football tradition and great players such as Dollah Salleh, Supermokh, Zainal Abidin Hassan, Lim Teong Kim and others, we have descend to this state.
I think that a total revamp of the league and administration is required, and have a 10 to 15 year plan to develop the game in the country, state sides must learn to find their own sponsors, on getting an income to ensure the survival of the team or even make a profit. If successful sides such as Selangor can do it, doesn't mean sides from smaller state such as Perlis or Kedah can't do it. It takes some planning and bold decision making to make it work. I look forward to the day where we can all trot to the stadium to watch our beloved state side or national playing again, this time, with better quality.
A bit off topic I know, but I would want nothing than see our football improve and go back to the glory days. Then we could probably talking about big teams coming for the Pestabola Merdeka, REAL big teams, not Indonesia & Thailand or Singapore (no offence), but the likes of Japan, Korea or even African nations such as Nigeria or Senegal.
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