johor’s Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has just taken over the FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) throne as president, and he’s already getting things done.
The Crown Prince, also fondly known as TMJ, has made it clear that he means business and will waste no time in making decisions to revamp the organisation.
So far, he has appointed former Johor Darul Ta’zim Mario Gomez as the new head coach for the national football team, ending Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s contract with Harimau Malaysia.
Datuk Ong Kim Swee will replace Frank Bernhardt as the national U-22 coach.
But TMJ’s biggest concern at the moment is about the funds in FAM, how much money they currently have and to study how the funds have been used over the years.
“I will check FAM’s budget, to study it and see how much money we have. The priority is to take care of the budget and I’m going to be very transparent and where we are going to channel it to.” TMJ said in a interview with NST.
He also used Thailand as an example of using funds in the right way; by channeling the revenue from broadcasting rights to the teams so they can work on development programs for the youth players.
“And I still think the budget for NFDP (National Football Development Program) should really go to FAM.”
The Youth and Sports minister YB Khairy Jamaluddin has said he wants to work closely with TMJ towards ameliorating the structure and state of our national football squad.
TMJ welcomes that idea, but he believes that the ones who should be responsible for football developments are the affiliates and the clubs.
“They [the fans] demand to see improvements in the structure and the system, therefore I feel the budget should be given to FAM and each affiliate and club participating so that they can run their own youth development programme — with the assistance of the coaches in NFDP.”
The new president also noted that he will be the chairman of the FMLLP board, work together with the team and see how can improve the organisation.
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