RECENTLY, the Malaysian national football team, Harimau Malaya, qualified – on merit – for the 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers for the first time since 1980, after they thrashed Bangladesh 4-1 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on June 14.
It sent Malaysians over the moon, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri who, shortly after, announced that the team will be considered to receive some form of reward or celebration for their success.
But do they deserve it now, or should they wait at least until they get through to the championship quarter-finals?
In the second episode of More Than A Game, The Vibes’ Sports Desk speaks with a seasoned football expert, former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) youth development head Dr E.R. Subramaniam.
Under the guidance of Kim Pan-gon, Subramaniam shared his professional view that the recent success of Harimau Malaya might only be a short-term phenomena.
What can FAM do to sustain or expand their glory in the future and how can the Education Ministry get involved?
Being in the football industry in and around FAM for decades and having organised various development programmes, he also shared his vision for the national football industry, including the most frequently misunderstood concept of grassroots development. – The Vibes, June 21, 2022
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