FAP’s lack of vision affecting Penang footbal

NOT many who follow the domestic football scene would realise that there is a state team missing from either the Super League or Premier League this year.

Malacca, who are plying their trade in the less-publicised FAM Cup, were relegated to the third-tier competition at the end of the 2010 season.

Now, another state team – Penang – will be heading to the FAM Cup after the completion of the Premier League final round fixtures.

To say that Penang have been poor this year would be an understatement.
The islanders never really looked like climbing off the foot of the table the entire season, and that is where they will end their miserable 2011 campaign.

Up until June 17, the Panthers garnered a solitary point from their first 20 matches.
With relegation already a certainty, they provided a tiny amount of consolation to their suffering fans with a 4-2 victory over Penang club side Sinar DiMaja Kepala Batas in the penultimate league tie.

Not surprisingly, the Penang supporters are not venting their anger at the playing squad. And all three coaches who have been in charge at one time or another – Robert Scully, Shukor Salleh and Ahmad Yusof – are seen to have done the best with the limited resources provided to them.
Instead, it is the Football Association of Penang’s (FAP) shoddy administration and lack of vision that have earned the ire of the supporters.

The writing was already on the wall for Penang following the exodus of experienced and bright young talents since 2008.
The unpopular RM2,000 salary cap introduced since 2009 has seen many talented players shunning the state. Reports in local dailies of the Penang players not being paid their salaries for the first few months of this year justified the low morale and spirit around the squad and the string of embarrassing defeats on the pitch.
Despite the continuous slide of the Panthers, the FAP management, led by president Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim, have decided to soldier on.

In his defence, Zahrain did make several changes to the top hierarchy of the FAP recently, but it is deemed by the supporters to be a case of being too little too late.
The current predicament of the state football side is evidence that wholesale changes are needed. And it is time for new faces, with fresh ideas, to take charge of FAP.

Dedicated people with a true love for the sport are waiting in the wings, willing to shoulder the burden of lifting the fortunes of Penang football back up.
But first, they need to be given the chance to do so.

The last time Penang won a significant domestic trophy was back in 2002, when Irfan Bakti led the islanders to the FA Cup.
While Irfan was back on the podium to win the same trophy again with Terengganu last month, Penang’s fortunes have plummeted to new depths.

Consider this plea from a Penang fan – it’s time the FAP clean up their act by minimising the politicking and concentrating on putting up a team capable of earning immediate promotion to the Premier League in 2012.
Kelantan have shown that it could be done.

The Red Warriors bounced back from the depths of the FAM Cup in 2005 to win the Malaysia Cup last year and become one of the top teams in the country.

There is still hope for Penang.