The Road to 2015

We have to sit and talk. Are we happy with the current state of our football so far? the answer is a big NO. We won something at ASEAN level on 2009, 2010 and 2011 but then we failed to achieve it on 2012. Struggled at ASEAN level is a fact.

For a record, since 1984 untill today, we only managed to win three times a medal called 'SEA games gold medal' and a cup of friendly ASEAN community by the name of 'ÁFF Cup'.

The SEA games now only serve as youth tournament consisting under 23 years old squad. While the AFF cup has never been recognized by AFC as a competitive tournament. It is only a friendly tournament. 

After these dreadful 29 years of pain, it is a clear fact that our football policy has failed. Are we trying to pretend there is nothing wrong with it? Denying the fact that our football policy has failed, is a big insult to the Malaysian football fans.

Today, i would like to highlight how important it is going to be for the next eighteen months. 2015 would be considered as important year for Malaysian football. If we seriously thinking of moving forward in this industry, there are two issues need to be addressed by the FAM. One, to qualify for the Asian Cup in Australia. Two, the privatisation of Malaysian League.

Firstly, mathematicaly we still have the chance to qualify for Australia 2015. Maybe we are not as good as Qatar, but i believe our team are a better side as compared to Bahrain and Yemen. If Datuk K Rajagobal's men qualify for the continent's biggest tourney, it will improve our profile globaly. 

Secondly, the long awaited privatisation of M League. This is one of the important conditions required by the AFC for any national league to obtain A Grade League status. If M League comply to this rule, plus private owbership of the participating clubs, then we will have better chance to improve our League's grade. 

What is the benefit for being an 'A Grade League'? 

Our clubs could qualify for AFC Champions League tournament, which is equivalent to that famous UEFA Champions League. The lucrative club tournament, which will enable Malaysian clubs to play against the bigger Japanese, korean and Australian clubs week in week out. If this come true, i can imagine it will be a much bigger stage than our traditional Malaysia Cup.

The future of Asia football will be only in these two competitions. Asia Cup for AFC members national teams, and AFC Champions Cup for elite club football. 

We can no longer living in our own league. We can no longer living in our sweet memories. We can no longer living in the old ways. Malaysian football must look forward. The FAM must admit its failure in the past, and have to open for changes to meet the future. I hope by 2015, at least one of these targets can be achieved.