KUALA LUMPUR – In a sporting saga spanning over four decades, the Malaysian football team’s absence from the Olympic stage speaks volumes about the shifts in prowess since the days of legends like Datuk Soh Chin Aun, the late Ali Bakar, and V. Krishnasami who once dominated Asian football.
Despite valiant efforts from subsequent generations of players and coaches, Malaysia’s football team has struggled to reclaim its former glory, facing setbacks in Olympic qualifying stages since the mid-80s.
Optimism, however, springs anew as the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) refuses to surrender their dreams.
With the 2024 Paris Olympics on the horizon, FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin acknowledges the daunting challenge ahead.
Speaking exclusively to Scoop, he emphasised the need for a relentless work ethic, putting faith in under-23 head coach Juan Torres Garrido to inspire the players to give their all in the qualifiers.
“To achieve this target that we have set, our coaches and players need to work harder than they are currently doing.
“FAM’s dream to qualify for the Olympics is not a way to pressure the players but to motivate them to do better.
“I won’t be disappointed if the team is unable to achieve the target, as it’s going to be tough to get the top three spots for the qualifiers.
“It won’t be a walk in the park, facing top-tier nations like Japan and South Korea, but I will be more than happy if our team shows improvement compared to our previous outings,” said Hamidin.
In an era where financial backing plays a pivotal role in a team’s success, seasoned sports analyst Mohd Sadek Mustaffa suggests that FAM’s pursuit of an Olympic berth may be a strategic signal to secure government support.
Highlighting a reported alleged RM7 million deficit in FAM’s financial report, Sadek believes the association is subtly urging the inclusion of the national football team in the existing podium programme to secure funds for vital youth development initiatives.
“The lack of funds for Harimau Muda has hindered youth development programmes, especially for the under-14 and under-15 players.
“FAM’s indirect plea to play in the Olympics is a bid to capture the government’s attention and secure the necessary funds to revitalise grassroots football,” he said.
Speaking on the team’s current readiness for Olympic qualification, Sadek expressed scepticism, pointing out that Malaysia lags behind regional rivals like Thailand and Vietnam.
He emphasised the urgent need for a broader pool of talented players from Malaysia Football League clubs, citing that only a handful, such as Selangor FC, Johor Darul Ta’zim FC, and Terengganu FC, are currently producing promising young talents.
“This situation has to change if Malaysia were to have quality players to emulate the success of the legendary teams who made it in the 70s and 80s,” Sadek added.
Reflecting on past achievements, Malaysia’s football team has qualified twice for the Olympics, notably in the 1972 Munich and 1980 Moscow editions (boycotted).
In Munich, they finished 10th among 16 nations, showcasing resilience by defeating the United States 3-0, despite losses to West Germany and Morocco.
As the journey unfolds towards Paris 2024, Malaysia’s football enthusiasts hold their breath, hoping for a resurgence that echoes the glory days of the ‘70s and ‘80s. – November 22, 2023