16 Feb FAM seeks candidates to privatise MSL

THE grapevine has it that the FA of Malaysia is seeking out prospective candidates as it contemplates privatising the Malaysian Super League (MSL). The MSL, FAM has rather belatedly found, is draining its resources and it feels its attention should be on the national teams. Whether it can get anybody to bid is another thing altogether, considering the quality of the MSL.

B. Sathianathan lost his job as national coach when he slammed the MSL as “not football” and just days later, Terengganu’s Ken Worden described his players as “schoolboys.” Most players, after six match days, are still  struggling with their fitness and the discerning Malaysian public, fed on a staple of European football, is staying home and leaving most stadiums near empty. It is against this backdrop that FAM is seeking to privatise the MSL and in the meantime, the show goes on.

Though some – treble winners Kedah especially – have started on a shaky note, it won’t be long before the MSL takes its normal shape. Selangor look like genuine contenders this season while Kedah will find it hard to regain the title as they have yet to come to terms with the departure of their foreign players. Kedah beat surprise package KL Plus 1-0 in their last match but whether they can regain the consistency that was their forte last season remains to be seen.

Selangor, however, should have no problems collecting another three points against UPB-MyTeam tonight as the gloss has disappeared from the reality TV side. But MyTeam can, at least, take credit for bringing some fresh air and
ideas into a league that doesn’t have any.