Right time for new man at helm of FAM

What do Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Raja Ahmad Zainuddin and the late Datuk Ahmad Basri Akil have in common?

They have all been let down, in one form or another, by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) that they attempted to rejuvenate.

Ahmad Basri was the national team manager when Malaysia competed in and won the SEA Games Gold Medal for football in 1989.

A true gentleman with a great understanding of the game, both on and off the pitch, Ahmad Basri was always years ahead in football innovation.

And therein lies the problem.

Being "too" progressive means waiting for no one, attempting to innovate instead of replicate.

Unfortunately, FAM has never had a clear vision in the future of Malaysian football, thus shackling any individual whose progressive mind and attitude is deemed a threat.

The same scenario was repeated with Raja Ahmad. He was simply someone who spoke his mind on the state of affairs in Malaysian football.

Then came the football revolution in Kelantan.

Annuar Musa’s innovative thinking, coupled with business acumen off the pitch, provided the springboard for Kelantan's success on the pitch.

That is, until he realised that his horizons and dreams were being stifled by the custodians of Malaysian football.

Like in Raja Ahmad's case, speak your mind and the Football Association drops on you like a durian!

Today, however, there stands an individual who can, and will, reshape Malaysian football for years to come, if given the chance.

The Crown Prince of Johor,, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has given rise to a new force in local football.

With the Southern Tigers of Johor Darul Takzim, he has transformed Johor football in the two years he has been involved with the state FA, and uniting the people of Johor while he is at it.

TMJ, as Tunku Ismail is affectionately known, is determined to keep the youths in the state occupied through healthy means and off the streets, and will take winning trophies as consolation to the social and cultural development he intends to nurture.

For that, he has the heartfelt gratitude of this former state footballer from Kluang, and who bears witness to the positive direction that football is heading in Johor.

His priorities are not mired in the pursuit of fame and wealth.

Besides, TMJ's attempts at unifying his state's foundations through sports is a breath of fresh air, especially when there are factions and groups intent on causing racial rifts in our beautiful multicultural country.

I have been told that the grassroots, youth and amateur football development programmes will take off in stages state-wide after the holy month of Ramadan.

Every district will be scoured, talent and coaching education nurtured.

As a football fan, TMJ now stands on the threshold of resurrecting Malaysian football on a larger scale. He is spearheading an attempt to bring Malaysia into the upper echelons of Asian football.

We have been mired in the "Third Division of Asian Football" not for a lack of passion, drive or intelligence but unfortunately due to a lackadaisical and suppressive footballing governing system.

The time has come for someone brave enough to take on the mantle of developing and progressing football in Malaysia, and TMJ is the ideal candidate.

His willingness to appear on live television has also displayed one quality that has been severely lacking in Malaysian football administration for decades; that is, being open to dialogue with the people.

We have sorely missed such a direct line of communication in Malaysian football, especially when answers were much needed over the years from the FAM leadership.

.A sportsman by his own right (polo, in this case), Tunku Ismail knows that one is responsible for their own actions, and change can only come from individuals willing to go above and beyond the call of duty for progress...  Class! – May 23, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider