RAJA BOLA SPEAKS

Players must play competitive matches every week to excel internationally while the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) must emphasize on a number of aspects before sending players for training overseas says 'Raja Bola' Datuk Ghani Minhat.

The legendary former international, national coach and team manager, said if the decision to send the national Under-23 players for training overseas, it cannot be for just a short period but must be at least for a whole season.

"Programmes like this must go on for at least a season not just a short stint like what was done before," he told Bernama when contacted here Wednesday.He cited the decision to place some players at renown clubs in the world, for short stints.Among players who had short stints were Mohd Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli, Juzaili Samion (Strasbourg FC, France), Mohd Rudie Ramli, Mohd Fadzli Saari (SV Wehen, Germany), Baddrol Bakhtiar, Mohd Bunyamin Omar (Chelsea, England) and Mohd Asrarudin Putra Omar (PSV Eindhoven, Holland)."

Apart from training, players need competitive matches regularly to experiment what they have learned in training. They must play competitive matches at least once a week. If just training, they can even do it here," he said.

Ghani Minhat feels his views were valid since players would be able to play at least two competitive matches a week when they represent their respective teams in the M-League.The man, known as 'Raja Bola' for his exploits as a player during his heydays in the 1960s, also expressed concern over the kind of support and cooperation from players where they would be attached."Each club or country will have their own style and training routine.

So, to place them with different clubs may be similar to playing for different clubs in the M-League," he said.Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek had recently proposed to retain the national Under-23 team that won the gold medal in the Laos SEA Games after 20 years, instead of going back to their respective state or club teams to play in the M-League.The proposal was initially shot down by FAM because the players had already signed up to play for their respective teams, but later agreed to the ministry's proposal, and find ways to see the proposal becoming a reality.-- BERNAMA