It’s only been three weeks since the Malaysia Cup final took place, but the football fever isn’t showing signs of dwindling down yet. While the national team is actively preparing for the AFF Suzuki Cup, local Malaysian sides are already planning ahead for the 2015 season of Malaysian football. Most clubs have already started their pre-season businesses, and some of them have even formulated an entire squad for next season.
But the transfer fever here is slightly different from Europe. Players within the local scene are far more involved in short term contracts and direct negotiations, whereas foreign players are channeled into the local league via a different method, compared to the one in Europe. Top European sides for instances, actively scout players, before making their moves. But the role of scouts isn’t exactly prominent in Malaysia yet.
Which then begs the question of how do things really work over here. To get an exclusive insight into this matter, we spoke to a prominent player-agent in Malaysia, Craig Morraies, who offered exceptional perspectives on how things are done.
1.How long have you been involved in the local football scene?
From a working position, its only been a couple of years, but I’ve been involved in some form or another since 16 when I was training first at Bukit Jalil Sports School, and then a few years later at Selangor. With so many friends playing in the league, it was hard not to follow it, and even when I moved back to England, I was always following it, and catching the highlights on Youtube, or RTM’s website.
2. Could you tell a bit about the sort of involvement you have as well?
Currently, I’m one of the English commentators for Astro Arena. I also work for a company called BumiBola Sports, and handle the commercial activities for players such as Brendan Gan, Junior Eldstal, Khairul Fahmie, Nazmi Faiz, and Syed Adney.
3. Having been raised in the UK, what was your opinion on the local football scene, upon arrival at KL?
I first moved over at the age of 7, and although I cant remember when I went to my first match, I remember my uncle taking me to alot of KL and Selangor games. My dad also took me to watch the Merdeka tournament quite a few times. I remember watching the likes of Zainal Abidin Hassan play, and its so weird to now call him a friend, and someone that I can just ring up or text. Going to watch these teams, were my first LIVE games, and I remember thinking that the atmosphere during the Malaysian matches were terrific. Obviously back then I didn’t really understand the game as I do now.
4. General observation on the level of efficiency as far as football bureaucracy is concerned?
Well, I think we can all agree that football in Malaysia can be run a whole lot better. From what I’ve been hearing, there will be important changes being made, within FAM, and hopefully that puts Malaysia back on track. I do think that with the current president, Malaysian football can move forward, and I like the fact he has got TMJ involved in the organization. Between them, I feel that the sport will progress, as long as the required changes in personnel are made.
5. This one is for the fans. Could you explain briefly on how negotiation processes takes place between clubs and players?
It’s a strange one this, as there are signs that things may be changing over here slowly. In regards to most of the local players, they don’t have any agents that handle them. Negotiations between a player and a team is all done via a mobile phone. As players are generally on a 1 year contract, it is the interested coach that makes the call to the player saying that he wants him in his team for next season. Its as easy as that. I said ‘most of the local players’ at the start of this answer, because players like Junior Eldstal and Brendan Gan, although considered locals, are handled by Scott Ollerenshaw. I feel that agents would come more into play when longer contracts are offered all across the board. Kelantan took an unheard of step and offered Khairul Fahmie a 5 year contract. If, for example, he wanted to leave in the 2nd year, then he’d have to find a team willing to pay a transfer fee, or pay up the rest of his contract. Thats where an agent would come in, and allow the player to focus on his football.
6. Do players in Malaysia get protected? Or do clubs actively take advantage of them?
I wouldn’t say they are protected, neither would I say clubs take advantage of them. As I mentioned above, a vast majority of the players are on 1 year contracts. One of the reasons for this is that the future of clubs are so unstable. We are starting to see alot of club sides emerge, and if one day the main financier decides to pull the plug, then there are about 20 players without a club. Does the club help them look for one? No. In that sense, the players arent protected. However, if clubs do not pay players, a scenario which is quite common in Malaysian football, and still expect them to play, then you could say that the club is taking advantage of the players. The PFA, headed by Hairuddin Omar, is starting to pick up over here, and that will help protect the players if there are issues with the club.
7. Why do you think it’s important for players to have personal agents doing the talking and negotiation for them?
Firstly, it allows the players to focus on his football. The last thing you want, as a player, is to worry about whether you’re going to have a team for the following season, or if your current club is going to extend your contract. If a player has that on his mind, there is no doubt his performances will suffer. The agents role is to take as much load off the player, and make sure he is able to solely concentrate on football. Obviously, the agent situation over here is a bit different, compared to Europe, but in time players will maybe realise, that there are benefits to having someone representing you, and also negotiating for you.
8. How exactly is the process like in Malaysia, for acquiring foreign signings?
Foreign agents are always in touch with clubs over here, offering their roster of players. It is not uncommon for a club to receive plenty of CV’s and CD’s sent to them. Usually, though, clubs work with agents that they’ve had a good relationship with. If there is any interest in the player, he usually comes down to train with team, and play a friendly match, so the coach can get a better look at him. Sometimes whats written on the CV, or you see on the CD, is not quite what you get when he’s playing in front of you!
9. Could you give us an insight into the sort of incentives that clubs usually utilize to tempt a player?
Cash incentives! When they sign their contract, players usually get a signing on fee. This could be 1 or 2 months of the agreed contract. However, if a club has alot of money, and they’re in competition for a players, the signing fee could potentially rise. Another incentive is cash bonus for wins and silverware.
10. We’ve seen numerous clubs in Malaysia making horrendous foreign signings, only to release them after that. Why do you think this situation is consistently repeating itself?
Because some foreigners are signed before they’ve even been looked at. As I mentioned above, you may have played at big tournaments, or in big leagues, and you might have an awesome highlight reel in which you scored 30 goals in a season. But if that was 10 years ago, there is no chance that you’re going to be the same player. This is why it is always important, especially with foreigners, to trial them before they are signed. When I say trial, I’m also not talking about 1 week. I’m talking about taking a 6 or 7 of them and keep them with you all through pre-season, and when it comes to it trim it down to 4. I say this because as well its important to individually be a good player, it is equally important to gel with the team, or fit into the formation or style the coach wants to play.
11. What are the changes you’d like to see in the local football scene, as far as player transfers, player protection and negotiations are concerned?
Well first of all I’d like to see more stability within clubs. I think if that’s rectified, then everything else will follow. There’s talk of all the teams to be privatized, and if so, that will be an important step for Malaysian football. The potential is there, the crowds are coming back, but football just needs to be handled by the right people, who know what they’re doing.
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