No hidden hands! – next coach should have full autonomy, says Chin Aun and Co

PETALING JAYA: Please, find the right coach!

Former internationals want the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to be extremely thorough in naming the next national head coach, who will not only improve the quality of the game but revive the stature of Malaysia football in the region.

Their reactions come in the wake of Tan Cheng Hoe’s announcement to quit as the national coach yesterday after failing to achieve the target set by the FAM - which is to qualify for the final of the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup.

In Singapore, Malaysia finished third in Group B after defeats to Indonesia (1-4) and Vietnam (0-3) and wins against Cambodia (3-1) and Laos (5-1).

Names like Bojan Hodak and Brad Maloney have been linked to the hotseat, with former internationals and coaches adding that the next coach should be given full autonomy of the team.

Hodak led Kuala Lumpur to the Malaysia Cup last year while Maloney has done well with the junior team.

Legendary coach Datuk M. Karathu, who used to coach the national Under-21 from 1991 to 1992, said the FAM should give a chance to coaches who have performed well in the Malaysian League.

“We have to plan ahead and decide what competitions we are competing in for the next two to three years. We must not get coaches who just want to sit and enjoy. We need someone who demands results,” said Karathu.

“It depends on FAM. Usually, if you get a foreign coach, they will want at least a three-year contract to build the team, while local coaches usually offer shorter terms. So they must decide well.

“We’ve to look for someone who is well versed with our game. I’ve been impressed with JDT under coach Benjamin Mora and Bojan, who won the Malaysia Cup with KL. Maybe they can be considered and given a chance.”

Another reputable coach Azraai Khor Abdullah said whoever is appointed should be given full autonomy, and no one should interfere in their work.

“I think FAM have to be extra careful when hiring a new coach. I’m sure they would have done their work during the post mortem. Also, no ‘tangan ghaib’ (hidden hands) should interfere with the future coaches’ job,” he stressed.

“If that continues, our football will go no where. The incoming coach must know the culture and football philosophy in Malaysia. If a foreign coach joins, he must be assisted by a local coach who has a good understanding of the game.

“Bojan’s name is being mentioned, but that’s not a surprise because he has coached here for quite a while.

“They must be assisted by a technical committee comprising football brains, not those with political links. It’s time also to rejuvenate the squad with some youthful faces.”

Malaysia’s most capped player Datuk Soh Chin Aun shared his opinion by saying that the national team could consider hiring a Japanese or South Korean coach.

“These two countries have shown considerable improvement, and they are regulars in the World Cup. They have credible coaches, who have broadened their horizons overseas, so maybe we should tap into that,” said Chin Aun, who played for Malaysia 195 times on the international stage.

“I believe there is no harm in giving them a try. Indonesia and Vietnam have used their expertise and see where they are.”