Professional Footballers’ Association of Malaysia’s (PFAM) CEO, Izham Ismail believes that Tengku Abdullah’s decision to step down from being Football Association of Malaysia’s President could be a positive change for Malaysian football.
Tengku Abdullah reportedly claimed that he would step down gradually, which comes in the aftermath of Malaysia’s 0-10 defeat to UAE last week. PFAM’s Izham, while completely understanding the complexity of the decision, happens to think that it’s a wise move as well.
“It’s always a difficult decision to make, especially in his case. It’s never easy to step down,” he told FourthOfficial.com
“But if he’s completely sure of his decision, then it’s a good one. In fact, if this decision paves the way for a revamp of the flawed Malaysian football system, then we completely commend the move,” he added.
This comes after Dollah Salleh announced his resignation last weekend, as soon as the national team touched down in KLIA, following their heavy defeat to UAE.
Datuk Ong Kim Swee has been appointed as the interim head coach, for their tie against Saudi Arabia tomorrow night, and Izham urged local fans to rally behind the team, for what will undoubtedly be a difficult clash.
“I think it’s completely unfair to entirely blame the players for the UAE defeat. Yes, they can be criticized. But you can’t make them a scapegoat for it. Even Coach Dollah. The problem is deeper than just them. The system needs a complete overhaul.
“The players themselves are disappointed with the defeat and they will be looking to put on a spirited performance tomorrow. I think it’s crucial for fans to back the team and help them bounce back against Saudi Arabia,” he added.
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