FAM needs positive changes in leadership to progress in football development

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) need positive changes to stimulate the progress and development of football in the country through a change in leadership.

Former Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general Datuk Peter Velappan said it was necessary because all stakeholders want to see changes and the new leadership must make it happen.

"This is the expectation and hope of all Malaysians. What we want to see from football is for the game to give back to the community. Good leadership, good management, good coaches at every level (states) can assist FAM in its transformation.

"Therefore, FAM need to start from the grassroots, especially from schools. There are no major competitions in schools and club level football is weak. If the situation continues, football will not develop in the country," he told reporters when met at the launch of the Real Madrid Foundation Clinic by Epsom College in Malaysia (ECiM) Chairman of the Governors, Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, here Tuesday.

Peter Vellapan said the new leadership must initiate programmes to identify talent at the grassroots and restructure the leagues at state and national levels, especially promoting club level football.

Kelantan Football Association (KAFA) advisor Tan Sri Annuar Musa will take on Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim for the post of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president during the FAM Congress on March 25.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal is said to be among four candidates vying for the post of two Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy presidents.

Three others who have confirmed their candidacy are Perlis Football Association (PFA) president Datuk Rozabil Abdul Rahman, one of the incumbents Datuk Seri Afandi Hamzah (the other being Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad) and Melaka United Football Association deputy president Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi.

Apart from the four, FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and three others were also nominated for the posts of deputy president but only the four accepted their nominations.

For the posts of four vice presidents, nine candidates were confirmed from the 21 nominations and for the posts of 10 exco members, 17 candidates confirmed their candidacy from the 30 nominations. In the race for a women exco, seven candidates have entered the contest, said Hamidin yesterday.

The FAM Congress was brought forward from 2018 to March 23, this year, following the decision by incumbent president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to step down, after having taken over from his father Sultan Ahmad Shah, the Sultan of Pahang. - Bernama