How running changed my life - Alexander Winifred [part 2/4]

In part 2, Alex tells us how empty he felt inside having no friends to share his achievement with except for his family. Being a high-school graduate at 13, he was offered pursue his studies at St. Louis University, Missouri USA but did not have enough funds. He tells us how he was turned down by everyone he approached to seek help.

He also tells us how he started running and what motivated him.

How running changed my life - Alexander Winifred [part 1/4]

In this part 1, Alex tells us how hard life was for him, growing up with a medical condition that led him a lonesome life with no friends and constantly being bullied by others. He did not go to school like other kids of his age but he managed to graduate high school by the age of 13.

Football development blueprint Malaysia: Do we have one?

For years I have asked the question on bola@mamak if there was such a thing called football development blueprint for Malaysia. For 3 seasons on the show I argued, debated and irritated people on:

1. Do we have one?
2. If yes, where is it?
3. If no, what are we waiting for?
4. And if we do have one why cant FAM make it public?

I am actually relieved that we as a nation that loves football do have a blueprint. As the number one sport, the driving force in building a sustainable sports industry and social glue, I am happy we have a blueprint that was developed in 2002.

Subra, ( I call him chief), a qualified FIFA coach and FIFA agent,   father and husband and most importantly a passionate lover of malaysian football took me out for dinner at an Indian restaurant called the Kitchen Affair in Jakarta and shared with me a bit of the history of Malaysian football blueprint. 

Chief who has been in Indonesia for 2 years now is the prime consultant hired by oil tycoon billionnaire Arifin Panigoro to set the then rebel indonesian league (Liga Primer Indonesia) to revolutionize football in the land of Garuda. 

So Subra who set up the whole structure of the once rebel league is the consultant of the now legal league. My question is what the hell is he doing there when we need him here in Malaysia. Why did he leave FAM and Malaysia?

I know the answer but he asked me not share this on my blog.

So I go back to the question of football development blueprint in Malaysia. YES, it exists. It was used as a guide. It has produced results. And now it is sitting in the FAM archive probably gathering dust.

The blueprint was developed and approved in 2002 and in 2009 we won our first SEA games gold medal after some 15 years title and trophy barrenness.  Later we won the Suzuki Cup and then in 2011 the SEA games again. The Zaquans, Che Mats and Shafiq Rahims of the world are the result of Tunas Cemerlang initiative.

Football academies were set up and ran by FAM for a few years in accordance to the blueprint but unfortunately had to hand over to the Sports Ministry due to financial constraints.

So, the good news is that we have one.. Bad news is apparently there is no more follow up and the blueprint is gathering dust.

I asked Chief, " Iam sure the blueprint is being followed up and improved as we go" and to that he said " if that is the case where are the new stars of malaysian football" to replace Safi Salee, Norsharul,  Zaquan brothers, Shafiq Rahim…. In short where is the next generation?

According to Subra, since the approval and implementation of the blueprint in 2002, 7 years later the results begin to show. Then inconsistent follow up and with the blueprint falling off the radar, the possiblity of declining football standards is starting show with our non appearance in this year's Suzuki cup finals. Never mind not winning it again but how about being in the finals.

(Well, some might say that even Germany with its most aggressive youth development program in the world is not consistently in the world cups finals.)

For what ever it is worth......Below is the 20 year plan for football in Malaysia. This is a part of a document that  was developed in 2002.

CLICK TO ENLARGE