DATUK Seri Subahan Kamal and former national coach K. Rajagobal were once regarded as a winning combination following Malaysia’s victories at the 2009 Laos Sea Games and the 2010 AFF Cup.
The 52-year-old was the team manager during Rajagobal’s tenure between 2009 -13.
Subahan now wants to forge a winning combination with newly appointed national coach Nelo Vingada.
Their first task is next week’s Asian Cup qualifier against Lebanon at Larkin Stadium.
“I am definitely honoured to be given the trust by the FA of Malaysia (FAM). But the job comes with huge responsibilities,” said Subahan, who is also the deputy president of FAM.
“I accepted the post offered to me by FAM president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim as I believe in his leadership. Tunku Ismail wants to take our football to greater heights.
“I will do my best to assist Tunku Ismail and also the national team. Vingada and I have similar goals and I hope we can guide the team to success.”
Subahan, who is also the president of the FA of Selangor (FAS), wants the fans to give the Portuguese coach a chance to turn the national team’s fortunes around.
“Everyone should support the team. The match against Lebanon is tough.
“Critics are only good at criticising. They should instead support the team and the positive efforts taken by Tunku Ismail since he became president.
“But such is the way it is, this is the syndrome that often happens in football here.
“I dare to speak as I was the team manager when our football team attained successes at the 2009 Sea Games and the 2010 AFF Cup,” he said.
Subahan said Vingada is the right man for the job and his methods have been accepted by the national trainees.
“He is a coach with a lot of experience and also a person who is approachable. Of course, we want to beat Lebanon but we have to understand it is only the first game under Vingada.
“Success will not come immediately. Vingada will need two years to transform the team. I think in this two years we will see huge changes in all aspects,” Subahan added.