YOURSAY | ‘Real issue lies in the absence of a true grassroots system.’
Minister hopes for 'appropriate measures' to curb further Harimau Malaya slump
Eddie Van Halen: Malaysia’s football crisis is often discussed in terms of rankings, coaching, or controversy. But the real issue lies deeper, in the absence of a true grassroots system that builds players through competition, not shortcuts.
Real grassroots football does not begin in stadiums or academies. It begins in places like Batu Kurau, small towns where football is played with pride, identity, and community support.
Local teams compete within districts such as Larut and Matang, creating the first layer of meaningful competition. Here, players are not selected; they fight to be noticed.
From this environment, around 100 of the most promising talents naturally emerge. These players represent the best of their communities, forged through real matches, pressure, and rivalry.
This is the critical stage Malaysia has overlooked, not just identifying talent, but exposing it early to higher levels of competition, including international youth tournaments, regional tours, and structured overseas training.
This “middle layer” is where potential becomes excellence. As these players gain international exposure, they return sharper, faster, and mentally stronger.
They then compete at the next level, district champions advancing to state-level battles across Perak, from north to south. Only the strongest survive.
From 100, the pool narrows to 20 or 30 elite players who have proven themselves repeatedly under pressure. These state champions then carry their battle to the national stage, facing the best from Selangor, Johor, Kedah, and beyond.
At this level, Malaysian champions are not selected by reputation or documentation, but by performance.
The final few who rise are players shaped by a complete system of local grit, structured competition, and international exposure.
This is the pipeline that should feed into the national setup under the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). A system where talent is undeniable because it has been tested at every level.
Instead, Malaysia has attempted to bypass this process. By relying on administrative solutions and imported eligibility, the system has weakened its own foundation.
The result is what we see today: not just declining rankings, but a loss of identity and credibility.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/769825 (credibility)
The solution is not complicated, but it requires discipline. Rebuild the grassroots leagues. Restore district and state competitions. Most importantly, institutionalise a pathway where the top 100 emerging talents are systematically given international exposure before reaching the national stage.
Because a nation that can produce its best players from places like Batu Kurau and prepare them for the world before they even wear national colours is a nation that will not need shortcuts. It will produce champions the right way.
Apanama is back: Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari has expressed disappointment. Here’s another minister who is deliberately in denial and delusional.
Taufiq, you need to shut down FAM and forget about Malaysian football. Malaysian football will become like Malaysia Airlines (MAS), our once comatose airline that has been rescued many times.
Even though it is now making a profit, operating costs remain high due to a bloated workforce and a “good-for-nothing” union demanding too much.
Without football, which is no longer trustworthy due to its pure and simple cheating scandal, no one will trust FAM.
Of course, you people will behave as if nothing has happened and continue pumping taxpayers’ money as though it were your grandfather’s money. But the rankings will not improve.
The whole world knows that Malaysian football is a cheat, and the administration and its agencies were involved in a “pure and simple cheat”.
https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/770520 (cheat)
Instead of expressing disappointment, can you update the status of the FAM criminal forgery case? Is it still ongoing? Will it drag on until it becomes NFA (no further action)?
Sherlock: It looks like the minister has just woken up, discovered that FAM is facing difficulties, and is now disappointed that the ranking has declined. What a load of nonsense.
If you are the minister, why can’t you take charge and open this can of worms to move forward? Instead, you are dancing around the issue, being overly polite, offering niceties, and avoiding hard truths.
We pay you to do a job, not to make excuses.
Learn from Tourism Minister Tiong King Sing, or even Donald Trump. Are you afraid of offending certain people involved in the FAM scandal? It is a scandal that requires fearless leadership. Please wake up, Minister.
Mechi: The minister is in denial. Rankings at 135 will fall further. Go to the root of the problem before it worsens, or everyone will remember your tenure for the wrong reasons.
Listen to the media - they can help - along with people like P Gunasegaram, R Nadeswaran, and Frankie D'Cruz.
You are a new minister. It is better to expose everything now rather than later.
Coward: Frankly, minister, your statement is not enough. It is good that you acknowledged the drop in rankings. However, it is troubling that you did not directly address the cause of the decline.
The earlier “advancement” was a deception, yet you chose to ignore it in your statement. This raises a serious question: isn’t your job as sports minister to ensure fair play? Why are you silent on this?
Finally, do not merely hope that appropriate measures will be taken. You must take them. It is within your remit and your responsibility. Just do it.
The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.
These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
