18 Dec WINDS OF CHANGE FOR KELLY

The winds of change have been heartbreaking for Malaysian football which has seen more tormenting days than any other during this monsoon season. First was the loss in the Suzuki Cup

The second blow, however, landed just two days ago on other aspiring Malaysian footballers who clambered out of the Asean University Games in Vientiane, again shot out by the Thais 1-0 at the semi-finals stage of the 11-nation tourney.

But the Thais are far from the finish with Malaysians. They seem to have ‘gained from our pain’ as the countdown to 2013 begins; rejoice in every moment of our delusions and myopic calculations.

This time around, they have in their wings the FA of Malaysia assistant general-secretary Kelly Sathiraj who will take on the job as the director of competitions & consultant with the FA of Thailand.

Kelly had an audience with His Royal Highness Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the FAM deputy president, at 4.30pm today in Kuala Lumpur to convey his decision.

Kelly is well known for his knowledge on the intricacies of competitions, an incredible personality and administrator within the perimeters of the FAM and has always been a ‘competitions man’ with the Asian Football Confederation, taking the cue as match commissioner.

His ‘exodus from FAM’ makes him among the personalities who have joined the ranks of Mohammed Saifuddin Abu Bakar who is now the technical consultant of competition and Pro League at Oman Football Association, and John Windsor who currently holds the post of AFC competitions executive director.

This ‘brain drainage’ is indeed seen as another big blow to Malaysian football as Kelly’s expertise and experience could have been better utilized in far more effective ways in our own backyard.

Now we can only sit back and ponder if Kelly’s ambitious plans for the FA of Thailand will do us any harm or good in the passage of time!

Well, I would like to convey my best wishes to Kelly in his foray with the FA of Thailand and hope he achieves greater success.