KUALA LUMPUR: It is expected to be a huge loss for Malaysian football if FA of Malaysia (FAM) president, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim were to walk away from helming the national footballing body before his term ends.
This scenario was admitted by former international Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail who went on to explain that Tunku Ismail should continue with the planned agenda of restoring glory, appeal, image and prestige of Malaysian football, which should not come to a sudden, grounding halt.
"Tunku Ismail does not need to bother about talk from people who do not know any better about the challenge of leading a big, important association like FAM. Tunku Ismail should carry on helming FAM for at least another three terms, as only then will everyone be able to see real development in the long run.
"As a young FAM president who has a lot of fresh ideas, this is the time for him to prove to critics that he is more than able to effect positive changes that will benefit Malaysian football compared to the previous leadership and administration
"He will definitely face all sorts of pressures because he occupies FAM’s top post. However he should always remain positive and accept comments and opinions with a pinch of salt and an open mind because he is genuine in his quest of effect positive changes for Malaysian football and a return to the glory days of old when Malaysia were feared and respected by many opposition sides.
"Tunku Ismail must be given the time and space to fulfil and carry out what he has planned, and we must give our undivided support for his efforts to develop Malaysian football as it will ultimately benefit us all, especially the players and the fans,” he said when contacted earlier today.
Yesterday, FAM were presented with the bleak prospect of Tunku Ismail vacating the top post after a video was posted up on the Johor Southern Tigers (JST) Facebook page where Tunku Ismail, who owns Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), admitted that he is contemplating stepping down as FAM president as he doesn’t see himself staying for long with the national footballing body.
"I hope there will be a new president. Superman can be FAM president because I won’t be for long (as president).
"I will let go of the FAM president’s post perhaps this year or the next. It all depends but the faster the better,” he said in the video clip.