Revive inter-state league to spot new talents, says former team manager

A FORMER team manager from the Penang Football Association (FC) has called on the state to revive the inter-state league as a platform to spot new grassroots talents instead of depending on import players.

The days of Ramblers FC and those who played for the Chinese Recreation Club or the Penang Port Commission were also the period when star-studded players like Shukor Salleh, the late Isa Bakar and his brothers stole the pitch for Penang, said Datuk Gary Nair.

The inter-state league is believed to have been disbanded in the mid-2000s due to the lack of participation and financial woes.

"We were the powerhouse of Malaysian football in the 1970s and a brief period where the late coach Moay Yoke Ham led the state to the Premier League championship in 1998, But now, we are struggling and losing is becoming a habit here," Nair said.

Nair said that the state is struggling in its football fortunes as there was a lack of a grassroots pool.

Players who are dedicated to the cause of representing their home state of Penang, are important attributes besides possessing sound footballing skills, said Nair.

He said the fighting spirit was more evident in players instilled with the love for their state rather than those who are plying their skills just as a professional.

The domineering Johor FC in today's Premier League, has financial backing but the state's royalty also proclaims an inherent love for their state and flag, said Nair.

It translates to having players with a stronger spirit when representing the club - pushing the team to make winning a culture.

Penang FA was founded in 1921 and it is the oldest football club in Malaysia and one of the oldest in Asia.

Currently, it is 10th in the Super League standings, but it was the last match which frustrated its supporters when it was thrashed by Johor FA 8 - 0 in December.

Nair said that the inter-state league can be financed by the corporate circle, including enticing factories to donate to a good cause.

Nair also said that football officials should not be obsessed with just having funds for their respective teams.

The priority should be on unearthing new talents, he said, adding that Malaysian football was never the same when it became riddled with corruption in 1994 with over 100 players arrested.

Though the current national team has encouraging performances including drawing with giants - South Korea in the Asian Cup in January, Nair said that fans recalled how the team used to beat South Korea in the 1970s.

"We were beating South Korea, not just satisfied with drawing. So, it goes to show how far we have fallen off the pedestal," added Nair. - The Vibes, March 11, 2024.

ends