'Football team managers must act like CEOs'

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek called on football team managers in the country to act more like chief executive officers (CEOs) in running their teams.

"We cannot resort to the old ways in modern football team management, if before, team managers were only concerned about ticket sales and logistical needs, now they have to contend with a new scenario.

"They have to act like CEOs, view each player as a great asset, and have clear objectives on how to raise performance to rebrand their teams," he told reporters after officially opening the new office complex of the Penang Youth and Sports Department here today.

The RM5.1 million complex was fully completed on Oct 26 2010.

On another matter, Ahmad Shabery said the issue of the transfer of Norshahrul Idlan Talaha better known as Mat Yo should serve as a good lesson to all that terms of contract of players in the M-League should be clearly spelt out.

Mat Yo who was named Most Valuable Player of 2012, had to fork out RM299,000 to buy out his remaining contract with the FA of Kelantan to join Johor Darul Takzim.

However, Ahmad Shabery noted that this was also a positive development as unlike before, the kind of sums involved now (for player transfers) would encourage parents to allow their children to opt for professional football as a career.