http://www.the-afc.com/eng/articles/viewArticle.jsp_168297272.html
Malaysian clubs face an uphill task in the AFC Cup next year, thanks to the ban on recruiting foreigners
By Tan Boon Piaw
Kedah coach Mohd Azraai Khor could be forgiven for thinking his side stands little chance on the continental platform in 2009.
Kedah created Malaysian football history earlier this year by sweeping all three titles on offer in the land for the second time in a row but the performance was mainly turbocharged by a strong foreign legion.
But a blanket ban on all Malaysian Super League clubs against hiring foreigners can spell doom for continental glory aspirers like Kedah and Negeri Sembilan, both of whom are pencilled in for the AFC Cup next year.
Not surprisingly, the decision has caused much heart-burn and soul-searching.
“It is the other teams who had problems in either selecting good foreign players or paying their salaries,” Kedah FA President Azizan Abdul Razak lashed out at the FAM’s move.
“Kedah had no such issues with the imports. So why are we being made to suffer for the follies of others? Is it because the other teams could not find any other way to beat Kedah?” he wondered.
CONTRIBUTION
The statistics speak for themselves.
Marlon James, the St. Vincentian forward, scored 113 times in 134 games for Kedah, bundling in 23 goals this season in the Super League to walk away with Golden Boot.
Last season he was unstoppable with 40 goals in all competitions for the champions.
James received good support in the engine room from compatriot Bernard Huggins and Nelson San Martin of Chile.
“I don’t know what words to use to thank them for their contribution and effort in guiding Kedah into the Malaysian football history books. Our feat of winning six titles in two seasons is unbelievable,” said Azraai Khor.
“Without doubt, Kedah have the best three foreign players in Malaysia, and their services will be remembered in the history of Kedah football.”
“Everyone here is sad to see them leave, and I wish them all the best with their future teams,” added Azraai Khor.
AFTER-EFFECTS
Both Kedah and Perak - without their foreign stars - felt the bite in the recent AFC Cup quarter-finals when they were thrashed by Bahrain’s Al Muharraq and Lebanon’s Safa FC respectively.
This was after Martin and James bagged four goals each as Kedah won four out of six games in the group stage to finish second in their section.
“I know that if we had the three foreign players with us, things would have been different. And I would go so far as saying that we could have won the match against Muharraq in Bahrain," lamented Azraai Khor.
“I believe that we will struggle in next year's AFC Cup. It has been a bad decision (to ban the foreign players)."
CATCH-22
The FAM is, meanwhile, caught in a Catch-22 situation.
The radical decision to bar foreigners was ostensibly taken to give local talent enough playing time and lift the quality of the game which has plummeted in recent times.
“We are going to put the national team above all,” asserted Che Mat, FAM Vice-President. “Everything we plan will be in line with the objective of the national team.”
FAM Deputy President Khairy Jamaluddin has said the ban is for an “indefinite period”.
“It is a unanimous call. In fact, the teams which have qualified for the AFC Cup next year, also agreed that priority should be given to developing and strengthening the league.”
With the league kicking off soon and the AFC Cup campaign not scheduled until March next year, one only hopes there will be enough time for the FAM to test-drive the locals-only football and lift the ban urgently if needed.
(Edited by R. Ravi Kumar)
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