National team duty should take precedence over club assignments

MAJOR honours can be won with clubs, but there is nothing like winning for the nation. I believe it’s a must to play for the country, above all else. The greatest honour is to play for the Jalur Gemilang.

Ask any professional footballer anywhere – representing the nation is the pinnacle of their careers. Even if your name is Lionel Messi.

Let the players showcase their talents, skills and commitment to their homeland, this must be the message to all clubs.

A lot of people would say that international calendars are boring because the world is more enamoured by the star-studded Premier League, La Liga, and Saudi League, but donning the national jersey is more than about wearing just a uniform.

You are expressing identity, unity, and carrying the dreams of millions who support their national team with unwavering passion.

So, it baffles me to see some quarters undermining the value of national duty, and seeing it happen during the AFF Cup was enough to make the blood boil, especially for the one penning this.

In the ongoing regional tournament, we have seen some Super League clubs recalling their players for domestic competitions, even for the Challenge Cup, which is a tournament for those defeated in the Malaysia Cup round of 16.

Anyone would be baffled to see such a situation. Elsewhere, it is the norm that once a player reports for national duty, he will be there until the end of the team’s duties, unless he or she is injured or has personal matters to attend to.

Calling back players like Penang’s Syamer Kutty Abba and Adib Abd Raop for the Challenge Cup was confusing for many who had hoped they could play against Timor Leste.

One would think there would at least have been an outcry when Sabah’s players, all key men for Malaysia — centreback Dominic Tan, wingback Daniel Ting, midfielder Stuart Wilkin and striker Darren Lok — returned for their Malaysia Cup game against Kuching City on Sunday and skipped the important game against Thailand, which the national team narrowly lost.

Months ago, Malaysian league giants Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) requested their key players — star winger Arif Aiman Hanapi, fullback Matthew Davies and centreback Feroz Baharuddin — to return from their international campaign to prepare for their games in the Malaysia Cup and AFC Champions League Elite. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had no choice but to oblige.

Even the national body seem helpless in situations like this, as they can only lean on what the FIFA circulars say when it comes to the release of players for international tournaments.

Sadly, there seems to be little pride among players and teams for the national football framework. For me, when you are called up, you must give full commitment for the nation. If there is any hesitation or even a hint that a player could be recalled, another truly committed player should be called up. The one who pulled out should not get back into the national team, not easily anyway.

Football, in this day and age, is evolving, it is growing and yes, the business side of it is important. Clubs are the paymasters, so they want to be the priority but in tournament football, you want the best, or in this case, the committed ones. At the end of the day, national pride must take precedence.

In recent years, the Malaysian football team have faced both challenges and opportunities in the AFF Cup, a tournament that stirs national pride and passion among fans.

Right from the date when the tournament was first announced, it was already noted that the tournament is not part of the FIFA calendar, although it is endorsed by the world football body.

Still, it is no reason to leave out our best players. interim coach Pau Marti Vicente knew he couldn’t have all his best players but he should have had at least a set of players who can deliver the goods. Instead, he is lamenting in every press conference that he had never encountered such situations in his coaching career.

To wear the national colours is an honour – that can never be emphasised enough. Players have to embrace a sense of belonging and responsibility, playing for something far greater than oneself — but it seems like a mockery to some.

That said, now go back and read all the first letter of every paragraph. And those below too, as we sum up what we really need.

l Love the current set of players and coaches in the AFF Cup. They are doing their best

l Enough of the lamenting. It’s time to ask hard questions and get answers.

l As FAM president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin prepares to leave, he must leave a legacy to be proud of.l Rejuvenation is needed and all stakeholders — clubs, the FAs and players — must collaborate for the greater good of Malaysian football.

l National duty comes first. Always! No one can dispute that.