MALAYSIAN football has scored. It shot to the 166th spot in the latest international football association rankings. Fifa had placed it at 169th position the previous month.

Some would justifiably ask, so what? Especially since Malaysia is 166th out of 199 countries. The fact that Malaysia is listed below countries such as Seychelles (165), Myanmar (164), St Lucia (162), St Kitts and Nevis (160), Lesotho (159), Samoa (157) and Tajikstan (154) does not help. Neither does the Asian Football Confederation ranking of 31, behind Indonesia (21), Singapore (20), Vietnam (19) and Hong Kong (18). Others would counter that at least the ball is in play. But, is that enough?

The numerous T-shirts -- emblazoned with such names as Manchester United and Chelsea -- worn by youths and adults are testimony that Malaysians have not lost the passion for football. There are those who are nostalgic about the "good old days" when Malaysia was a football power. They yearn for the return of a time when Malaysian youths knew the names of local players; a time when legends such as Mokhtar Dahari, (Datuk) Soh Chin Aun and Spiderman Arumugam caused stadiums to erupt in uproarious celebration.

It is a tragedy that Malaysian football, and interest in it, has stumbled. How often do we see children and youngsters playing football in the evenings? And whatever happened to the neighbourhood fields? Football is not just a pastime. It unites people. The beautiful game has a language all its own, a language that transcends race, religion and creed. There are no Malays, Chinese, Indians or Ibans on the field, or outside. Only players and a ball. Only spectators. In the past, football helped unite Malaysians. It can still do so. It calls for renewed efforts, and team play, on the part of the government, football associations and fans. It calls for officials who think about football rather than politics or self-aggrandisement. It calls for players with passion and pride.

The nation needs to have its youths on the fields again, away from the computer games consoles, at least in the evenings; it needs more fields; it needs better planning and implementation; it needs firms to sponsor games; But, mostly, it needs a Football Association of Malaysia that can dribble adroitly through challenges and shoot straight. No, the FAM does not need to put Malaysia where Spain is today -- on the top of the Fifa table. It's goal should be to tackle the decline and bring football back into our lives. Malaysian football, that is.