The year twenty ten has not even been 24 hours old and we have a major blunder for Malaysian sports taking place already.
Read the story from Bernama below and it makes you wonder if there is any sense in making such statements.
To be honest I do not know who advices you on this matter Mr. Minister but surely such an idea would have even sounded offensive to a five year old kid.
There was a fear that winning the gold medal at the SEA Games would have done more harm then good and the statement by the Minister justifies my fears with regards to this matter.
KUALA LIPIS: The Youth and Sports Ministry is to propose to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to retain the Under-23 football team as a national squad instead of allowing the players to participate in the state and club teams in the Malaysia League this year.
Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said that only by doing so would the efforts to revive the glory days of Malaysian football be realised.
"Not all state teams and their coaches can provide the level of training, skills and stamina required of national players," he told reporters after opening the general meeting of the Pahang Youth Council here yesterday.
Ahmad Shabery said the Under-23 squad would have to be given greater exposure through training and matches with football clubs abroad.
He said it was hoped that all the players would be retained in the squad to foster close understanding on the pitch.
The Under-23 squad had beaten Vietnam 1-0 in the final to win the SEA Games gold medal in Laos last month to end a 20-year drought, and recently they beat Syria 4-1 in an international friendly. - BERNAMA
