KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 ― It is a well known fact that the Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim has been itching to take on the national authorities on the sorry state of football in the country, the sport most beloved by Malaysians.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin finally said “yes” to debate the royal earlier this week, though the officials at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) have baulked at the idea, calling it unnecessary.
It would be a real cracker for football-loving Malaysians to watch if Astro airs the debate live, but the private satellite broadcaster has yet to comment on the request by the Johor football club owner popularly known by his royal Malay initials, TMJ.
What can Malaysians expect to hear from the two should the debate happen? Here are some pointers:
#TeamKhairy
Khairy is likely to forestall TMJ's argument by agreeing that the entire footballing system, headed by FAM, is bad. Which is why he initiated the National Football Development Programme (NFDP), a state of the art programme aimed at developing grassroots football at a very young age, facilitated by top coaches including former Bayern Munich FC Youth coach and ex-national star player Lim Teong Kim. And most importantly, it is completely detached from FAM.
This is important to prove that Khairy's passion to see Malaysian football transform. And he knows it would not be possible if it was run by the very same bureaucrats at FAM. The Umno leader, an ardent football fan, had previously said that the only way for Malaysian football to move forward is to start looking into the future. Players groomed under the FAM system are obsolete. The FAM style of thinking ― complacency ― is too deeply entrenched. So a new generation of players groomed with new values are needed.
Khairy is also likely to defend himself against accusation of inaction. Under FIFA rules, any governing football body from any member state must remain autonomous and free from government interference, which means his hands are tied. This does not mean he didn't try. Khairy had once warn that he was seriously considering suspending the FAM after the national squad got humiliating 10-1 drubbing by United Arab Emirates in the 2018 World Cup qualifying match last October.
The athletic minister could also point to his short stint in FAM as proof of his effort to transform Malaysian football. Khairy actually contested and became deputy president of the body in 2007, ostensibly to try and change things from the inside. But he decided against defending his post. He didn't say why but talks were rife that Khairy threw in the towel because he too saw that the rot in FAM went all the way to its core, and that there was no way to change it unless the entire body was dissolved.
#TeamTMJ
TMJ on the other hand is likely to maintain his argument that Malaysia is rich with talent, but they go to waste thanks to alleged corruption in FAM, which is purportedly thriving due to the lack of action by the Youth and Sports Ministry.
He will cite his club, Johor Darul Ta'azim FC (JDT), as proof that with the correct system and support environment, local players can thrive. In short, JDT is arguably the most successful club in Malaysian football history despite having only joined the local league three years ago. It has world class facilities including a multi-million ringgit closed door training centre. It is the first Malaysian club to win the coveted AFC Cup.
The Johor prince will also cite his club statistics to back his argument that local players can compete internationally. Although foreign talents make up its attacking lineup, one of the top scorers is Malaysian playmaker Shafiq Rahim. But despite being the most on-form Malaysian player at the moment, Shafiq has been unable to replicate his form at the international stage. Recently he captained Malaysia to a lacklustre draw with Macau, a team whose lineup comprise of mostly semi-pros.
The Johor prince will more than likely detail some of the corruption allegations facing FAM, or at least show how cronyism in the body has made Malaysian football what it is today.
Conclusion
Although Khairy has contributed much to helping develop local football, his efforts are long-term in nature. The casual observer is unlikely to notice any difference now in terms of what NFDP has been able to produce since its induction two years ago. But the programme has given results. Malaysians have gone on to to play against the youth academy of the world's top clubs like Manchester United and Real Madrid. And they have won.
Which means that Malaysians are likely to favour TMJ as the better man in this debate. First, because the success of his club JDT shows that he walks the talk. Secondly, his vocalness. In an environment where politicians or officials prefer to stay silent in the face of growing public calls for reform, an aggressive voice, be it unsophisticated or brash, will be deemed gallant.
Either way this debate is a sure cracker. If there is a pay-per-view for the bout, the organiser will likely make money. Well, maybe not. But what is certain is Malaysians would definitely want to tune in should the event happen.
