FOR all its noble goals of raising the country’s playing standards. the Malaysia Football DNA plan is not without its sceptics.
Some critics claimed FAM had introduced development programmes in the past that were similar to the latest DNA project but without much success.
They pointed out that the late Karl Weigang, who steered Malaysia to Olympic qualification in 1980 and former Chelsea player, Allan Harris, also devised development programmes for FAM, but the impact was little.
However, many in the football fraternity (a new generation of fans) feel that FAM’s latest plan is more comprehensive and substantial than the projects introduced by the previous administrations.
For example, pundits pointed out that the erstwhile programmes were more on improving players’ basic skill and foundation at grassroots level but the DNA plan, also known as the Malaysian Way, emphasises much more on playing formations and creating more “thinking” players.
FAM president, Datuk Hamidin Amin, a banker by training, figured that the Malaysia Football DNA project is a good long-term investment for the future.
He sees it as much different from FAM’s previous programmes but admitted that it will need the cooperation and support of everyone in the Malaysian football ecosystem.
Hamidin stressed that FAM will take great efforts to ensure that the project of grand design is well implemented by its affiliates for it to be successful.
He said the FAM exco and technical committee will oversee the DNA plan to keep it on track.
“We will work with state FAs and the schools under the National Football Development Plan,” he said.
“We want to see progress (of the plan) every three months. The FAM exco and technical committee will monitor.
“It’s long term. Its implementation is very important,” he said.
According to Hamidin, Dutchman Robert Alberts, who was then the FAM technical director, did propose a programme in the mould of the Malaysian Way in 2005 but it did not take off.
Under the Malaysian Way, players from grassroots level, will be inculcated with specific qualities, leading to a punchy style based on the 4-3-3.
If all goes to FAM’s plan, the future generations of Malaysian footballers will all play a similar brand of high intensity, high press, possession football.