Zolkples to investigate claim

THE FA of Malaysia claims the National Sports Council has only disbursed RM4 million of the RM12.5 million it was promised while the government agency claims about RM8 million has already been paid out. As the two sort out the issue, reliable sources confirm that coaches attached to the football academies have not been paid their wages in months. The wages are supposed to come from the RM12.5 million. "Some of us have not been paid for the last one year. We have been asked to be patient and we have continued doing our job but for how long are we supposed to wait?" asked one coach yesterday. "I hope the sports minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob) will look into our plight." NSC director general Datuk Zolkples Embong disputed FAM deputy president Datuk Seri Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad's RM4 million figure. "We have paid close to RM8 million and I don't know why they said only RM4 million has been disbursed," said Zolkples. "I have to check this out but there were instances when we paid contractors and certain service providers directly. "We also absorbed certain costs such as air flight tickets, hotel accommodation and technical expenses so the figure could be more. I will look into it." Redzuan, after the FAM exco meeting on Sunday, revealed the RM4 million figure. He said the fact that NSC had not disbursed the full sum was the reason why FAM could not conduct any youth programmes for the year. Part of the RM12.5 million was also earmarked for the Young Tigers (national Under-19 team), which is costing FAM about RM3 million a year. However, it is learnt that NSC stopped funding the team after it learnt the Young Tigers will not be competing in the Laos Sea Games. Still, it would be best for Zolkples to investigate and reveal the full sum that has already been given to FAM.