We’re in this together: Datuk Dollah Salleh (right) and Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan are ready to serve the sport that made them legends.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian football legends Datuk Dollah Salleh and Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan have thrown their hats into the ring for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) executive committee elections, scheduled for Feb 15.
If elected, the two intend to use their vast experiences as former players and coaches to help Harimau Malaya regain their glory days.
Based on the early list of names issued by the FAM yesterday, Dollah will be a candidate in the vice president and executive committee (Exco) race, while Zainal is competing for an exco position.
Dollah and Zainal, who are close friends, were key players for the national team in the 80s and 90s.
Zainal has earned 129 international caps, scoring 50 goals while Dollah has played for the country 81 times with a strikerate of 33.
Dollah also coached Malaysia from 2014 to 2015, guiding them to a runners-up finish in the 2014 AFF Cup but resigned the next year following the team’s humiliating 10-0 thrashing by the United Arab Emirates in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Zainal thanked the affiliates for choosing him as a candidate.
“They believe my services to football over the years can help FAM, so I wish to repay that trust.
If I’m elected into the exco, I want to help improve our youth and development programmes with the aim of making Malaysia a force to be reckoned with again.
“We need to discover the next Datuk R. Arumugam, Datuk Mokhtar Dahari and Datuk Soh Chin Aun.’’
As for Dollah, he is not too concerned about which position he is contesting for as he just wants to contribute something to help elevate the Malaysian game.
“I have contributed as a coach and player. Why not as an administrator now?” he said.
“I want to give something back to Malaysian football in any capacity. I have been in this game for so long, so I can help to make it better.’’
The coming elections will see 17 positions on the FAM Executive Committee for the 2025-2029 term being filled.
The qualified candidates will receive the Confirmation of Nomination Acceptance form and must return it by Jan 23, confirming whether they accept or decline their nominations.
Meanwhile, the FAM Election Committee will submit their names for an integrity screening process involving the Police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), as well as a bankruptcy status check with the Malaysian Insolvency Department.
The FAM Election Committee will announce the final list of candidates on or after Jan 23, or by Feb 8.
