World Champions 2010
So, World Cup 2010 is over. Spain was deservedly crowned World Champions. Beside La Roja, several other teams also deserve (positive) mention.
Uruguay (population: 3.5 million; per capita GDP: USD 13,163) played well all the way to the semifinals before narrowly losing 2-3 to Holland. The team they beat in the quarters–Ghana (24 million; USD 1,591)–could also walk tall after their narrow loss through penalty shoot-out. Chile (17 million; USD 14,349) played well to get to the quarter-finals before losing out 2-0 to the eventual champions. These teams are worth mentioning because they were rank outsiders, not within the league of the traditional football powerhouse of Europe and South America.
And, of course, we should toast the two representatives of the East–South Korea (49 million; USD 27,978) and Japan (127 million; USD 32,608). They took Asia into the second round with some breathtaking football of their own.
Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister
With one month of action-packed, high-class football (except for the Dutch display in the final), one can’t fault Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister, for getting all excited about Malaysia’s hope of getting to the World Cup Finals sometime in the future.
Bernama quoted him as saying, however, that a revamp is needed for Malaysia (28.3 million; USD 6,896) to play in the World Cup. According to him, this revamp must involve development programs, infrastructure and training facilities from an early age. “The fruits of labor from such a revamp can be expected only after one or two decades,” he said after watching the final match between Spain and Holland.
I say, Bravo, Mr. Minister! That was a bold statement indeed, although I must say I don’t share your dream of us reaching the Finals in one decade. Two decades, may be. But like you said, we need to revamp nonetheless, and it MUST start now. Twenty years is not long.
Pride and joy of Malaysian football
But, Datuk, you must turn your dream into a serious target by backing it up with concrete strategy and plans, lest your dream remains a dream. You and the other decision makers, especially those in the Football Association of Malaysia must have the discipline and stamina to sustain this twenty-year plan. No half-baked solutions, seat-of-the-pants directives, or knee-jerk reactions. You need brains. You need people with courage to do the right things. You need true professionals to run the respective organizations without political interference. And, please, no more gimmick like bringing in Ian Rush for a few days stint to teach our footballers the art of scoring goals. A total waste of taxpayers’ money! I wonder whose idea it was. Someone told me it was Khairy Jamaluddin’s. But then, I digressed.
Yes, Mr. Minister, we need a revamp. And the first thing that needs revamping is the mindset of the individuals running your football organizations at state and national levels. I have a strong feeling that they are a major part of the current problem we face.
Einstein once said, “Madness is doing the same things over and over again, but expecting different results…” I substitute the word madness with stupidity.
YM Tengku Mahkota Pahang
By the way, it’s interesting to note that YM Tengku Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah, the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, is prepared to contest the post of deputy president of FAM during its coming Congress on July 31st. If elected, this would be his re-appearance at the center of Malaysian football after a three-year absence.
I wish to say, good luck, Yang Mulia. Malaysian football fans and observers are definitely watching with bated breath as how the Congress would pan out.
p/s – I still remember vividly in the 1970s when South Korea and Japan national football teams made their annual pilgrimage to Kuala Lumpur for the Pesta Bola Merdeka. For today’s youngsters, let me tell you that the Merdeka Tournament was THE premier football competition in Asia where national teams would send their best squads to pit amongst each other. I remember Malaysia and South Korea were two of the teams that would regularly reach the final after eliminating the other teams. Japan would also squeeze through every so often. The Malaysian team then were very much equal to, and at times better than, Korea and Japan. I also had the privilege of seeing up close and personal how the Malaysian team trained for the tournament. Around them you could feel and smell the dedication, hard work, and discipline shown by the likes of Mokhtar Dahari, Khalid Ali, Arumugam, and the rest of the team.
It makes me wonder, what exactly went wrong?
