PETALING JAYA: Former national coach B. Sathianathan says the lack of respect for top local coaches is telling, and it has to stop.
The Football Coaches Association of Malaysia (PJBM) president is in solidarity with Terengganu coach Nafuzi Zain, who has called the management out for being unprofessional after he claimed that he had received his contract extension letter through a kitman during a training session.
Nafuzi also stated that the contract was also handed out without any discussions. It contains a one-year extension and several key performance indicators for the 2023 season.
Sathianathan said Nafuzi deserved better treatment, especially after leading the team to the Malaysia Cup semi-finals and runners-up spots in the Super League and FA Cup.
“They (Terengganu management) should learn the protocols. I urge these clubs, especially CEOs dealing with personnel, to value the work of these coaches by giving them more respect and deals,” said Sathianathan.
“A successful coach will not go for another year’s contract. Clubs speak about the need for players and coaches to be professional, but what Nafuzi had to face was too much.
“Imagine, would a foreign coach be treated in the same way as Nafuzi was? Now, that wouldn’t happen. This lack of respect, it’s not good.
“Professionally, if you make a player an offer, call him in or speak to the agent. There is a place and time for it. It’s a disgrace to let a kitman handle it. It would never have happened to a foreign coach.”
Sathianathan believes that teams are trying to save money by offering little to local coaches, but he said they must be valued and hailed.
He said this year in the Super League, out of the top five teams, four of them were handled by local coaches – Nafuzi, Datuk Ong Kim Swee (Sabah), K. Devan (Negri Sembilan) and Tan Cheng Hoe (Selangor).
And in the ongoing Malaysia Cup, three out of the four teams are manned by local coaches - Nafuzi, Kim Swee and Cheng Hoe.
“Coaches pay about RM60,000 for a pro licence, but some local coaches are only paid about RM8,000-RM9,000 per month. Is it enough?” he questioned.
“Some clubs, the decision-makers, feel the coaches are not important. Without naming the coach, they are already signing up the players. Those dealing are the agents and CEOs.
“We have to have a proper channel. If they think coaches are unimportant, and only players and officers are important, they are doomed.”
Sathianathan also reminded clubs to be mindful when hiring foreign coaches, suggesting that their presence should benefit the local game.
He said some coaches come to Malaysia to do their badges and don’t have a strong background in the game.
“Teams might as well bring foreigners with a track record. We can learn from them,” he said.
“What’s the point of bringing in foreigners who just got their licence and have no track record? Please check his background before hiring. We need to have foreign coaches who can transfer knowledge to us.
“Don’t get them to fill spots. Look at Kuala Lumpur. Bojan Hodak is doing a good job, and he is sharing his knowledge with one of his assistants like, Shukor Adan.
“We should have more of these connections in our clubs.”
