KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is expected to name its new secretary-general by the end of this week after accepting the resignation of Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar today.
According to a source in the football fraternity, FAM president Datuk Hamidin Haji Amin has shortlisted three names and he will announce Saifuddin’s successor in the next three days.
“There is a list of three names but Hamidin is tight-lipped about it. Even his deputies and Exco members are not in the know,” the source told The Vibes when contacted.
It was understood that Noor Azman Rahman and Abang Zulkarnain Abang Abdurahman are the frontrunners for the vacant post.
“Hamidin will appoint the successor this week. This has been in the works for quite some time already,” the source told The Vibes when contacted.
At the same time, Malaysian Football League (MFL) chief executive officer Stuart Ramalingam squashed rumours stating that he would return and take over his old position in FAM.
“I am well settled here at MFL, and I am not part of the shortlist,” he said.
Saifuddin submitted his resignation letter last week and would be resuming his role as match commissioner for the International Federation of Association Football and Asia Football Confederation.
The decision to accept Saifuddin’s resignation was made during the FAM executive committee meeting for the 2021-2025 term today.
Saifuddin only spent a year in the secretary-general role after taking over from Stuart who left to join MFL.
“This job is not as easy as people think. It takes a chunk out of you,” said the source.
Among the accomplishments done by Saifuddin during his stint at FAM was organising the 2023 Asian Cup qualification at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, which saw the national team qualify for the tournament for the first time on merit.
Saifuddin joined FAM in 1993 when he held the role of Competition Department head until 2004 before ascending to the assistant secretary-general position from 2007 to 2009. – The Vibes, August 23, 2022
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