'Nothing wrong with historian commenting on sports'

There is nothing wrong in a historian commenting on sports because whatever happened before is related to history, including football in the country, said sports critic Prof Emeritus Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim.

Kay Kim said if anyone questioned his edibility to comment on the status of football in the country, it meant they too are not aware of history.

"Those who questioned my credibility do not know my background. If they knew they should not have made such comments. If anyone wants to talk or debate about football on television, I am ready to face them.

"If they did not live in that era, they would not know what actually happened then," said Kay Kim when interviewed on Bernama Radio24's 'Dalam Radar' programme yesterday.

Media reports had quoted Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) vice president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal as telling the media (journalist) to pose questions related to football to those who are really qualified or people with credibility to speak or comment on such matters.

Kay Kim, a historian, was also sad and disappointed that people today do not pay attention to history that encompass all aspects and not just politics or war.

He said if those involved in sports cannot accept criticism, they should always show positive results.

"If cannot accept criticism just win always...that is what we used to do. In those days all national heroes were sports personalities, not those who scored 24 'A' in examinations," he said.

Former international Reduan Abdullah who is now a football pundit said only through history can the performance of a sports be measured or determine whether performance was consistent or not.

"The history of football is relevant and the opinion or comment of 'veterans' are closely related and important because they were in the golden era of football in the 70s. If not based on history, how are we going to determine the road map of the country's development in football," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He said Malaysia had many professional players but the management aspect was still at the amateur stage.

Meanwhile, National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Seri Zolkples Embong said efforts to develop football must be realistic and need to be managed by organisations that are more professional.

"History is important to gauge the achievement of the past and present. We cannot however, solely depend on history and be satisfied the achievements of the past. There are certain aspects that are not relevant to current times.

"In football, we must accept the fact that changes are needed in the national squad. I believe the organisation responsible is always concerned with the development of football in the country," he said.