Fairy tales are alive in Laos as far as the SEA Games football tournament is concerned. The host nation Laos have defied all odds to top Group B and reach the semi-finals which will be played on Monday.
Typically thought to be football minnows in the region, they have been well-drilled in their tactics under Austrian Alfred Riedl. They now have guile and tactical astuteness to complement their determination and never-say-die attitude.
In Lamnao Singto, they also have a powerful forward who is capable of taking on the best of defences in Southeast Asia. He gave our Young Lions backline a stern test with his nippy running and shooting from different ranges, coming close to breaking the deadlock on a few occasions.
With 20,000 Laotians willing them, whatever happens from there on, this team will be remembered for breaking new frontiers in their football development. There is every chance they will become a credible, competitive team if the Laotian football authorities are able to keep the core and Riedl intact in the next few years.
They may not reach these heights again at senior level international football, but they can no longer be summarily dismissed as the Lions did in their 11-0 thrashing a few years ago.
Equally shocking news to have come out from this tournament is defending champions Thailand and Indonesia crashing out at the first out.
After losing 2-1 to Malaysia in their final group game, Thailand are eliminated by finishing outside the top two in Group A. By doing so, Thailand SEA Games Steve Darby has broken a few unwanted records.
The last time the Thais failed to win gold was in 1991. The last time the Thais missed the final was back in 1989. The last time the Thais did not advance beyond the first stage was futher way back in 1973. He, who formerly helped the Vietnamese women's football team to a medal, had done the nightmarish improbable, as far as the Thais will be concerned.
Indonesia went one better as they finished bottom of Group B with only one point, a 2-2 draw with Singapore. Yes, the statistics do not lie. They are officially worse than hosts Laos, Myanmar and Singapore in this Games. The Indonesians will be wondering what went wrong there as they went from bad to worse with each passing game.
Would the coaches of the Thai and Indonesian squads be spared the axe? Looking from history, that looks pretty unlikely. Indonesia axed Peter Withe after he failed to bring the senior team to the semi-finals of the AFF Cup in 2007. Thailand sacked German Sigfried Held after their early exit in the Tiger Cup 2004/05 group stage.
It also shows how tightly competitive the top of Asean football has become. Vietnam are now the reigning kings, but if they do not win the gold medal in Laos, the struggle to be number one in the region returns.
Under former international K Rajagobal, the Malaysians have been shaping up nicely in this tournament. Despite all the funny business inside the Kelana Jaya permises, these boys are focused on getting the job done on the pitch. They have clocked up international experience and will be looking to put all these into good use in their remaining two games, starting from Monday.
Meanwhile, with the final four settled (Vietnam v Singapore, Laos v Malaysia), let the fight for the medals begin!
Showing posts with label Asean Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Asean Football. Show all posts
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Will FAM Ever Learn?
After looking at Jakarta Casual and Bola Today, Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is a "Truly Malaysia" organization. Can anyone tell me which football league in the world that has a promotion and relegation system make as outstanding a decision as them?
Typically, with the exception of promoted teams unable to fulfill financial obligations to be among the teams in the elite, as is the case in the K-League sometimes, or financial irregularities, all promoted team should be taking their places in the top flight.
Thus, Harimau Muda, the national under-19 team who are also the 2009 Malaysian Premier League champions, ought to be competing alongside giants Selangor and Negri Sembilan. But no, thanks to the "wisdom" of the FAM President, the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, they will now defend their title instead.
Is this fair to the young boys who often had to play in front of empty stadiums and cannot participate in the Malaysia Cup and FA Cup? Given the state of development of the game in this country, this should have been the best opportunity for them to pit their skills against the best locals (since no foreigners are allowed to play in Malaysia, again thanks to FAM) in the Super League.
So Arzaai Khor's team will have to settle for second-best once again when there is nothing within the competition regulations that they cannot be promoted whether they finish among the promotion places or otherwise. Where is the meritocracy?
It could even lead to some of the better teams from the class of 2009 being poached away by the bigger clubs in the country. Not every player has the quality like the Zaquan and Zafuan twins to immediately command a place in the starting eleven. A pity that some of these promising talents are bound to be wasted.
Who benefitted from this decision then? Fallen giants Pahang, who were originally supposed to be playing in the Premier League, keep their top-flight status. Whether it is the intervention of their patron or not, it does not really matter.
Giant teams have risen and fallen before rebounding back to the top. Manchester United and AC Milan had their downers before. Even long-time giants Selangor were relegated to the second tier earlier this decade. If the Red Giants were allowed to fall, why not Pahang?
They are presently a pale shadow of their former glories. Big-name players deserted them for bigger pay packets and better conditions. Fandi Ahmad, Dollah Salleh and Zainal Abidin Hassan, the heroes of their 1992 Malaysia Cup triumph, have long retired.
Hence it is no surprise that Malaysia are ranked among the continent's worst leagues by the Asian Football Condeferation Pro League Committee. Even better, only Selangor are flying the Malaysia flag in next year's AFC Cup.
Present Thailand assistant coach Steve Darby, who once coached Perak, once commented that the Malaysians have this inward mentality that winning at home (ie Malaysia Cup) is more important than competing in Asia. With such an attitude, is it no surprise that Malaysian football remains a laughing joke today?
One disaster, promises of reform. Another disaster, another round of promises. How many disasters do FAM need to realize that they are actually the problem, not the solution? Malaysians have given up. Malaysian media care but are long tired of such nonsense.
The farce has been ongoing long enough. If that continues, perhaps production houses can make a long-running drama series out of such decision-making under Sultan Ahmad Shah.
Typically, with the exception of promoted teams unable to fulfill financial obligations to be among the teams in the elite, as is the case in the K-League sometimes, or financial irregularities, all promoted team should be taking their places in the top flight.
Thus, Harimau Muda, the national under-19 team who are also the 2009 Malaysian Premier League champions, ought to be competing alongside giants Selangor and Negri Sembilan. But no, thanks to the "wisdom" of the FAM President, the Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah, they will now defend their title instead.
Is this fair to the young boys who often had to play in front of empty stadiums and cannot participate in the Malaysia Cup and FA Cup? Given the state of development of the game in this country, this should have been the best opportunity for them to pit their skills against the best locals (since no foreigners are allowed to play in Malaysia, again thanks to FAM) in the Super League.
So Arzaai Khor's team will have to settle for second-best once again when there is nothing within the competition regulations that they cannot be promoted whether they finish among the promotion places or otherwise. Where is the meritocracy?
It could even lead to some of the better teams from the class of 2009 being poached away by the bigger clubs in the country. Not every player has the quality like the Zaquan and Zafuan twins to immediately command a place in the starting eleven. A pity that some of these promising talents are bound to be wasted.
Who benefitted from this decision then? Fallen giants Pahang, who were originally supposed to be playing in the Premier League, keep their top-flight status. Whether it is the intervention of their patron or not, it does not really matter.
Giant teams have risen and fallen before rebounding back to the top. Manchester United and AC Milan had their downers before. Even long-time giants Selangor were relegated to the second tier earlier this decade. If the Red Giants were allowed to fall, why not Pahang?
They are presently a pale shadow of their former glories. Big-name players deserted them for bigger pay packets and better conditions. Fandi Ahmad, Dollah Salleh and Zainal Abidin Hassan, the heroes of their 1992 Malaysia Cup triumph, have long retired.
Hence it is no surprise that Malaysia are ranked among the continent's worst leagues by the Asian Football Condeferation Pro League Committee. Even better, only Selangor are flying the Malaysia flag in next year's AFC Cup.
Present Thailand assistant coach Steve Darby, who once coached Perak, once commented that the Malaysians have this inward mentality that winning at home (ie Malaysia Cup) is more important than competing in Asia. With such an attitude, is it no surprise that Malaysian football remains a laughing joke today?
One disaster, promises of reform. Another disaster, another round of promises. How many disasters do FAM need to realize that they are actually the problem, not the solution? Malaysians have given up. Malaysian media care but are long tired of such nonsense.
The farce has been ongoing long enough. If that continues, perhaps production houses can make a long-running drama series out of such decision-making under Sultan Ahmad Shah.
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