A Malaysian football legend says the best way for the Southeast Asian nation to progress in the sport is by training the locals and giving them the break they deserve.
Speaking on the latest episode of the podcast Julang, Datuk Santokh Singh (main image), who donned the national colours in the 1970s and 1980s and was part of the team that qualified for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, expressed fears that Malaysia would never qualify for the Summer Games or the World Cup.
Malaysia played in the 1972 Olympics. The national team qualified for the 1980 edition but did not see action following a government boycott against the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. Malaysia has yet to play in the Fifa World Cup.
“We have 40-50 players in the Akademi Mokhtar Dahari (AMD). How many of them are playing for the national team?” asked Santokh.
The AMD is an academy for junior elite footballers selected from the National Football Development Programme.
When asked about the best solution moving forward, Santokh said: “The solution is simple — get your locals and train them”.
He added that the ecosystem went beyond players, noting that even local coaches were not given a chance at the highest level.
Santokh, who remains a household name, also spoke about his passion for the sport and his strong bond with former teammates Datuk Mokhtar Dahari, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk R. Arumugam, and Reduan Abdullah.
“I used to cycle from my house (in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur) to Mokhtar’s house in Keramat, then to Reduan’s house, and we would all cycle to Cheras for training. We couldn’t afford cars back then.
“On our way back, we would stop at Reduan’s house, and later at Mokhtar’s house for tea, before I headed home. Their mothers would welcome us warmly.
“When you get close to your teammates, you become like brothers. I’m not sure if such a comradeship exists today. But our bond translated onto the pitch.”
Catch the full episode on YouTube.
