Why TMJ is the rightful heir to the FAM throne

WITH the FA of Malaysia (FAM) scheduled to hold their Congress-cum-elections in February 2025, there is no other individual more qualified than the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, to run the national body.

Although Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub’s name has emerged as the sole candidate reportedly endorsed by Tunku Ismail to succeed the outgoing president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, there is no doubt the man everyone calls TMJ is the perfect heir to the FAM throne.

Behind the politics and powerplays in Malaysian football, neutral observers suggest Tunku Ismail should be given a second bite at the cherry to re-define the domestic game.

TMJ becoming the FAM president is not wishful thinking.

After all he took up the cudgels in 2017, albeit with little impact in terms of results on the pitch.

Tunku Ismail appointed Nelo Vingada whose stint was memorable for the wrong reasons as Malaysia’s FIFA ranking plummeted from 155 to 174 after a winless streak of six defeats and one draw.

Under the Portuguese, Harimau Malaya were not able to bare their fangs but Vingada’s replacement, former assistant Tan Cheng Hoe, whose appointment was announced by FAM days later, managed to rebuilt a new squad according to his philosophy.

Unfortunately, Tunku Ismail decided to quit FAM before Cheng Hoe had managed to fully impose his authority on the team.

Earlier, Tunku Ismail’s maiden attempt for the presidency ended in defeat as Al Sultan Abdullah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah won the presidential election in 2014.

The then Tengku Abdullah garnered 27 votes against Tunku Ismail’s 12 in a straight fight after Sultan Ahmad Shah decided to withdraw after helming the association for 30 years.

Ten years on, TMJ’s midas touch at club level is desperately required to transform the national team.

After all, the so-called privatisation project of the national team is driven by Tunku Ismail.

The template for success at JDT should also be applied to the national project, hence the new structure of the national team management set to be announced on Sunday.

Whether John Hutchinson, Jurgen Klinsmann, Carlos Queiroz, Esteban Solar or Benjamin Mora to be signing on the dotted lines to assume the hottest seat in Malaysian sports, he will be joining a long list of individuals who tried to provide immediate solutions to the country’s perpetual woes with little, or limited, success.

Pau Marti Vicente’s days are numbered as the ongoing AFF Cup is his final mission, as one of three Australians — Peter Cklamovski, Arthur Papas and Hutchinson — are set to assume the hotseat.

Cklamovski last coached J-League side FC Tokyo but has the experience of working under Tottenham Hotspur coach Ange Postecoglou from 2018 to 2020 in Yokohama F-Marinos.

Papas, 44, last coached Thai club Buriram United and also worked with Postecoglou from 2019 to 2020 in Yokohama.

Hutchinson, 44, is currently the interim coach of Yokohama but has no prior experience as a head coach.

With their fellow Australians Tim Cahill and Alistair Edwards providing invaluable input to Tunku Ismail outside the pitch, Malaysian football may go fully Down Under.

In an ideal world, Tunku Ismail returning to FAM should be accompanied by Kevin Ramalingam, who some say has been the power behind the throne, as the general secretary.

And Tunku Ismail and Kevin might just be the best men to take over FAM and be accountable to all stakeholders for the national team’s performance.

The key word here is of course, being accountable.