Football Analyst Urges FAM to Embrace New Leadership

Local football observer Dr. Zulakbal Abd Karim is calling for a bolder approach from the Malaysian Football Association's (FAM) affiliates when selecting the body's next leadership. He advocates for giving opportunities to new faces, believing they can introduce fresh perspectives and innovative ideas crucial for revitalizing Malaysian football.

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Affiliates need to be bolder in giving opportunities to new faces. We need to see who has the vision, plans, and ability to take FAM in a better direction.

Dr. Zulakbal's comments come in the wake of reports suggesting Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar is considering a bid for the FAM presidency. While Shahril has not officially confirmed his candidacy, his potential entry into the race highlights the upcoming leadership transition.

According to Dr. Zulakbal, if Shahril does indeed contest, affiliates must conduct a thorough evaluation of all candidates. He stressed that the focus should be on each candidate's capabilities, vision, and concrete plans for advancing Malaysian football, rather than solely on their popularity or established presence in the sport.

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Don't just look at a candidate's popularity, but rather look at what they can offer to the country's football.

He anticipates that Shahril might face strong competition from experienced figures like FAM Honorary President Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin and Malaysian Football League (MFL) President Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan. Dr. Zulakbal views healthy competition as vital, ensuring that affiliates have a clear choice based on the distinct directions each candidate proposes for FAM and Malaysian football as a whole.

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If there are new faces with good capabilities and ideas, why not give them a chance? The most important thing is the interest of Malaysian football and how FAM can move further from here.