MyTeam, whose team...

End of the road for MyTeam? Kesian...Please read here. Shall I take you down memory lane, to May 29, 2006, when YB Khairy Jamaluddin made the phone call to the NSTP top bosses for allowing Rizal Hashim so much space in criticising MyTeam the reality show and the team? Well, credit to the bosses then for they simply laughed it off...If I'm not mistaken the major complaint was the heading lah...and I would not be surprised if at that time they questioned my audacity to write negatively on an event attended by Pak Lah...I know as the Prime Minister, Pak Lah had never been to an international football match before.

Sorry lah, crumpled...

As usual these itchy fingers of mine had to hog the keyboard to express my reservations when something new is introduced as a vehicle to promote one or two individuals. Granted the reality show succeeded in stirring some interest into football, with everybody at the mamak stalls being seduced by the idea of a bunch of wannabes beating the players developed by FA of Malaysia (in reality the players are all products of the States and clubs) and the trials of which speed was the main criterion, drew large crowds everywhere but in the end, the players selected for the reality show were those who failed to impress the M-League selectors or scouts!

Monday, May 29, 2006

Study the idea behind MyTeam's formation and I believe its noble intention was not only to create a larger pool of talent but its raison d'etre was to promote Khairy, with the full might of TV3 and Telekom Malaysia, of which I have been a user/customer since the days when one had only six numbers to dial (so I must have say...), behind it. Not forgetting Kalimullah Hassan's New Straits Times...oh you should see the depths Harian Metro would go to just to please the Prime Minister's son-in-law! FAM had to give in and allow the exhibition match to take place while MyTeam even went to Old Trafford to polish their shooting boots and gain some pointers on how to beat the Malaysian side.

Now tell me how many from the team really made the cut? If MyTeam had real faith in the concept, why did the management take over the UPB Plantations side and employ established players to play in the Premier League and the following season, the Super League?

The harsh reality is staring at our face - our football structure and the following/fan base are State-based. It's hard to see Kelantanese supporting Kelantan TNB when the better option is to go and watch the Kelantan State team!

When Selangor MPPJ reigned supreme with marksman extraordinaire Juan Manuel Arostegui demolishing all and sundry in 2003, was the PJ Stadium packed to the brim?

So for all future sons or sons-in-law of whoever our Prime Minister is, if you are interested in forming a football team kononnya untuk mengubah wajah bola sepak Malaysia, bacalah dulu sejarah dan lanskap bola sepak tempatan...kalau tidakpun, tanyalah pakar-pakar! Above all, respect people and accept criticism once you enter the world of sports!