BY ZULHILMI ZAINAL Follow on Twitter
The Football Coaches Association Of Malaysia will be organising the 2017 Malaysian Football Coaching Symposium and Award Ceremony, announced its president Satiananthan Bhaskaran on Thursday.
Speaking to the media in a press conference that was held at the Malaysian FA (FAM) headquarters, Kelana Jaya on Thursday, the Felda United boss said that the event will be held on 3 and 4 November 2017, and is open to all the association members and coaches who are yet to become members.
Several talks will be held as part of the symposium, including lectures by experienced head coach Irfan Bakti Abu Salim and Malaysia U23 and former Malaysia senior team boss Datuk Ong Kim Swee, as well as as the award ceremony for coaches who have distinguished themselves.
Satiananthan also took the time to tell the press about three coaching issues in the country that have received the 400-strong association's attention.
The first issue is the Malaysian clubs' practice of resting underperforming head coaches, instead of outright sacking or mutually parting ways with them.
In the 2017 Super League, PKNS FC and Melaka United are among the clubs who have rested their head coaches; Elavarasan Elangowan and Eric Williams respectively. Former Sarawak boss David Usop meanwhile was announced by the club back in July to have 'rested' himself.
"We will get the FAM to put a stop to this, as clubs must be gentlemanly in this matter. Sack or let go [of the coaches]. The clubs do it because they don't want to pay the termination compensation, but when they do this it's like they're torturing the coaches.
"Although a rested coach will still get paid their salary even if he stay at home, it ultimately has an adverse effect on the coach. When he stays away from the pitch for too long, he will lose his touch as a coach," he explained.
Another issue that was raised by the former Malaysia head coach was an even more bizarre practice; the use of other coaches' licences by trainers who do not have the required certifications, which according to him is rampant in the Premier League.
"We have identified two trainers who are guilty of this, I've telephoned them and told them to cease or action will be taken against them.
"These trainers are utterly stupid for doing such a thing. How can they coach a team using someone else's license? Later on when they run into trouble with their contract, they'll come crying to the association for help. How can we help them when they've done something illegal?" pointed out the outspoken 59-year old coach.
At the other end of the spectrum is the hiring of foreign coaches who are properly-certified, but lacking in hands-on experience.
"[Most of] foreign coaches are good, but they must meet the requirements. They may have Pro or 'A' UEFA licences or certifications from South America, but we must also look into their backgrounds.
"It's no good if they previously have only worked in European countries such as Belarus or Estonia, whose FIFA rankings are lower than those of Asian countries'.
"Those who have been assistant coaches at the senior teams of top European clubs for three or four years should be welcomed, but not junior coaches of those sides. But don't simply hire those who just earned their badges days earlier because they're white!" explained Satiananthan.
