The root-caused of match fixing crime

 I am doing my best to create the public awareness on the most sophisticated, borderless, multi Billion's worth of criminal activities which is running smoothly under our nose for years.

Before we discuss further, please set your mind that we are going to reveal a criminal activities. It is illegal, moraly corrupted and to some extend, there is a need for some of us to adjust our lifestyle and to be moraly a better person.

Behind every crime activities, there must be a demand for it. People killed wild sharks for its fin, people sell drugs because the drug dealers asked for it. Some people smuggled weaponry accross the border because the warlords demands for it. When we have demand, the supply chain will respond as long as it can generate good money.

As we all know, football have become very commercialized globaly. It is no longer a simple game with great common people's passion. It is a massive industry, we have to acknowledge that. Football matches attracts public attention. And most of the viewer normaly expects their team to win games. To be precise, football fans demand for a good result from their team in any competition.

The final result is what matters most. Final result of a particular football match will decide which team to lead a league table, which team to book a place in a knock out stage of a particular Cup competition. These results normaly attracts public attention. And now, it also attracts criminal attention to make money.

The syndicate will organize or create a pool of funds for betting. This organized underworld pool of funds will invite gamblers who interested to bet for any particular football match. The gamblers will deposited their money for betting activities. Later, the syndicate, who is also the owner of the organized underworld betting scheme, will try their best to get the desired football match result. To do so, they will appoint 'on the field runner'to negotiate with the team's official or players.

For example, if majority of the gamblers bet for a 2-0 win for the home team, then the syndicate will try to minimize their loss by overturn the result like a 1-1 draw or even 0-2 win for the away team. To achieve the 1-1 draw or 0-2 win for the away team, the syndicate will appoint 'ón the field runner'or widely known as 'bookie' in Malaysia. These bookie will approach team officials like the head coach and offer some amount of money to field the players favoured by the syndicate. In the same time, the bookies also have established secret relationship with certain players, in order to get the result.

The head coach will field a starting eleven favoured to the syndicate, while the 'targeted' players will play their role to achieve the desired result. Goalkeepers will concede soft goals, a defender might purposely committed a foul inside penalty box and give away a penalty kick to the opponent, a striker purposely miss a glorious chance in front of goal and etc.

With technology advancement available nowadays, these syndicate operating worldwide with maximum profitable returns. Back to my concern, the demand for this criminal activities originated from a single betting or gambling activity. When the demand is there, they supply chain responded by the syndicate.

Gambling leads to bribery, bribery leads to 'fixed match result', corrupted officials or team players then deposited the money into the bank which is completing the money laundering cycle. So, three forms of sins generated from this whole syndicate. I want to highlight the bad effects of gambling activities to our society. It is not a question of whether gambling is legaly allowed or not, but moraly, gambling activities bring more harm to the society.

Some gamblers choose to gamble or bet to earn quick wealth. But my advice is, gambling is not the right way to build wealth. You need to put a fair and reasonable amount of effort to earn a well deserved wealth. Lets change Malaysia, say no to gambling.

The 'Guiza' Factor

Malaysian fans demand highest football quality week in week out. The majority of them are new generations of supporters with better football awareness, updated with team's selection news, keep in touch with their team transfer activities, well understood with modern days tactical strategy, and very critical in term of players technical level. 

I could say, generaly the fans has now a bit advance and very knowledgable. The pattern has changed, the consumerism change the fans to who they are becoming now. The consumer in a real market demands a good return for every of their investment/purchase. In football, Malaysian league for instant, the consumer or rather as the supporters, they expecting the best value from their money spend on match tickets, season pass, merchandising, as well as monthly Astro bill. (Astro is the main sponsor for the Super League & Premier league)

For our Football authority, whether at national level, state level or the club owner, they have to take a look at this demand and supply rules with an open heart. We are living in a world of service industry, slightly entertainment, and a healthy sporting culture. Football now emerge as the greatest sports in the world. For me, football is more than a sports. To move forward, the authority and the operator should not stick with the same approach of 10-20 years ago. They need to change as well, change and move forward to the right direction.  

To enchance, upgrade the quality of our top league, i suggest every MSL teams to invest more in high profile international players. Don't jump into the conclusion too easily. We may think the cost is so expensive to bring in a big name players to our league. But, for me, there is always a way for our MSL teams to sign at least one high profile player in each team. Look at the 'pulling' effects happening now at Larkin Stadium. Full house attendance is almost guaranteed every time JDT playing at home. The customers (The supporters) were offered a high quality product in Daniel Guiza. They came in full force to see a quality product. 

Customer loyalty (supporters loyalty) is now a secondary thing. The kids, their parents, the nearby community, and general spectators will only be loyal for something considered rewarding in nature. 

If every team in MSL investing in high profile player, so there could be 12 well known players in our league. European or top african player at their 30s still could offer a quality performance on the pitch. The likes of Fredy Kanoute (Mali), Luis Fabiano (Brazil), Nakamura (Japan), Raul (Spain), Riquelme (argentina), Ballack (Germany) and etc. MSL clubs must look for out of contract players, and make contact to the free players. 

The football authority and the operator should put more effort in term of funding and marketing strategy in order to match the salary demand by the high profile players. If they realy serious with moving forward, they should consider this as important aspect. A high quality players with big reputation and able to inspire our younger players. Massive 'pulling' factor, not just for local fans, but may upgrade our league's quality. 

The Malaysian dilema

A football mad nation such as Malaysia deserve a better professional league, better football development structure and a better national team. And we keep saying this for the past thirty years.

0-2 defeat by Qatar summed up the whole thing. It is indeed not the end of our qualifying campaign, but the performance in Doha proved that FAM need to open up for new ideas, a quick measure for an instant impact. We desperately need a quick fix, fans being frustrated for decades and we demand for massive improvement.

All south east asian teams lost their opening game. A big indicator that football in this side of the world is still in a developing phase. A situation we need to observe carefully, and a more serious comprehensive strategic plan is now becoming a must for most of the Asean FAs.

The fundamental for a strong national team is all about the quality of the domestic league, a systematic youth program and also players who ply their trade in foreign leagues. In our case, currently we relied too much on Harimau Muda program while the Super League quality is still doomed in 'c' grade. I personaly think FAM didn't put enough effort to upgrade the level of competitiveness of our league. After 20 years of profesionalism, i expect our League should be in 'B' grade level and qualify for AFC Champions League tournament.

We certainly able to produce talents, identify those talents, groom with care, expose the raw talents to so many international matches and challenge for honours at Asean region. But, the question is, are we too comfortable with Asean glory and refused to venture further up in the Asia level?

For me, the series of failure down the years was due to the limited physical conditions and technical ability of our local players. No disrespect to our local talents, but we have seen so many failed national teams were due to the same reason. The fact that current development method can't bring our football to the next level. Asian level i mean.

After all these dissapointing years, after all of these same old method, should we try something extreme? A solution may not be a popular one, but i suggest FAM should heavily consider on bringing in naturalised players.

Short term driven, considerably a quick fix, a suplimentary for the well developed Harimau Muda product. Can you imagine if a small sized Irfan Fazail play alongside Effa Owona? Or can you imagine if tricky Nurshahrul Idlan Talaha play alongside Johor's Orlando?

Please consider this as a short term, mega project for our football. As a one off project, we need to give a try. Evaluate, identify the right players with the right attitude, and with high interest to play for 'Negaraku'. At initial stage, bring in six to seven naturalised players. Play them together on regular basis, aim for higher FIFA rank and qualify for Olympic games and Asia Cup.

For me personaly, this is the best option available in short term basis, to bring Malaysia to the next level. A dilema could be, but the Malaysian fans could not wait for another thirty years.

Forget about Nazmi's issue, we need a real tiger heart in Doha

I can't hide my dissapointment with the return of Malaysia's favourite son, Nazmi Faiz Mansur to our local Super League. Playing football profesionaly in europe is a dream for every footballer in this world and Nazmi managed to do that for a short period of 6 months, at least.

I wont be commenting further on this as i dont know the real reason behind his shock departure from Beira Marr. However, it is considered a massive blow to our younger generations of footballer, who has started idolised Nazmi as their new hero. Every generations need their own hero for source of inspiration. Hidetoshi Nakata was Japan's biggest export in the late 90's. He was among the first generations of successfull Japanese players who ply their trade in europe.

But his return was judged with unfair perception by the public. Malaysian footballers were rich with history of failed mission in foreign land. And Nazmi is now considered as the latest casualty from the long list of 'ínability to live and compete in a different environment'. It may sound very cruel, but we may have no other choice than learn to accept it.

As a fan, i need to remind myself and others, that the real issue right now is not all about Nazmi Faiz. We have a bigger duty need to be addressed, and need to be supported. Our senior team, Aka Harimau Malaya will open its Asian Cup qualifier campaign this wednesday against the group favourite Qatar. Are we prepare for it?

I may not a fan of Datuk K Rajagobal tactics, but in this situation, i have to support the team to do well and get at least a point from this game. However, there are feel good factor in this team. The team consisting of MSL top scorer in Fauzi Roslan and Amri Yahyah, a new playmaker in Shakir Shaari, the return of on form Kelantan Forward Nurfarhan Muhamad as well as Left full back in Asrarudin Putra Omar. The stability of the team considered in great shape.

We may have lost to Iraq with three goals margin and some says the team were unable to give a decent fight, even not trying hard enough to get a consolation goal. But i believe they will bounce back and give the home side 'á battle worth to be remembered'.

This is the time for our boys to give their all, this should be played as a cup final approach, this is the chance to redeem our failure in AFF cup, and this is the true indicator for our Super League quality.

I demand a total commitment from the players, to raise for the occasion and give the home side a fight they will never forget. We have nothing to loose as we are not in line for hosting the world cup, we are not under presure because we are clearly the underdog. I demand a true Tiger heart from every each of you, my fellow Malaysian! Play for your flag and bring home that point.

Come on Malaysia!