Kuala lumpur: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has taken a significant step forward by terminating the contracts of the national team coaching staff, marking a pivotal transformation in Malaysian football. The move, described as positive by analysts, aims to reshape the local football scene in line with long-standing fan demands.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, local sports analyst Zack Rahim highlighted that this drastic action signifies a large-scale transformation within FAM, reflecting the wishes of fans, particularly hardcore supporters such as Ultras Malaya. The decision is seen as a return of technical authority to FAM, aligning with the ongoing calls for an overhaul of the Harimau Malaya setup.
Zack Rahim further noted that this restructuring represents an efficient financial management strategy through expenditure rationalisation, allowing funds to be redirected to essential development programs. He suggested that FAM should harness internal expertise, such as National Football Development Programme (NFDP) technical director Datuk Ong Kim Swee, for the interim coaching role, given his experience and current position within the organization.
Datuk Ong Kim Swee's reassignment is viewed as practical, considering administrative constraints in offering new contracts before the formation of a new FAM leadership committee. Zack Rahim emphasized that this approach maintains continuity while waiting for a permanent committee to be established in September.
Local football observer Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli echoed these sentiments, describing the restructuring as timely and appropriate in aligning FAM's management structure with recommendations from the Asian Football Confederation. He added that the absence of a permanent head coach could provide local players the opportunity to rebuild the team's image and regain fans' trust, which has been eroded by various challenges.
FAM confirmed the termination of National Team CEO Robert Douglas Friend's contract, effective June 1, along with senior technical staff members Cklamovski, Matthew Smith, and Seiya Imazaki, whose contracts ended on June 16. Additionally, the contracts of coach Nafuzi Zain and U-23 national team goalkeeping coach Mohd Yazid Mohd Yassin were terminated by mutual consent as of June 15.