Latest news with #Joehari
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
FAM chief responds to accusations of secrecy
KUALA LUMPUR: The foreign-born naturalised players have come to Kuala Lumpur, played for Malaysia and have gone back to where they came from. Yet, the debate over their ancestry, their lineage, their connection to Malaysia refuses to go away. It's an unusual situation, in fact, something which Malaysian football has never experienced. Some fans can't pronounce the names of their national players, some have problems remembering who is who and from where. And some fans have accused the FA of Malaysia (FAM) of keeping the lineage of the heritage players under wraps. In response, FAM president Datuk Joehari Ayub said the lineage and ancestry of the new heritage players have been verified. FAM had earlier announced that five new heritage players — Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo and Rodrigo Holgado — were cleared by Fifa. And they played key roles in the 4-0 win over Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier in Bukit Jalil last month. However, FAM has not revealed the lineage of these players, or how are they related to Malaysia, leaving fans in the dark. Joehari said the players' backgrounds were vetted and cleared by Fifa, and FAM has no reason to conceal any information. "We are not taking this lightly. Fifa has checked everything, and at FAM, we are merely following the procedures and directives set by them. "If we need to reveal it, we have no problem doing so." Joehari said FAM has always prioritised transparency and will not take shortcuts when it comes to recruiting foreign-born players, particularly in terms of eligibility and compliance with international regulations. "If there were any issues, Fifa would not have granted approval. In this case, everything was cleared and done through the correct process," he said.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Cklamovski should explain his ‘internal struggles' statement, says Joehari
PETALING JAYA: National coach Peter Cklamovski has some explaining to do. Cklamovski not only made headlines after guiding Harimau Malaya to an emphatic 4-0 win over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup third-round qualifiers on June 10, but for also making a statement on internal struggles plaguing the national team. And the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Joehari Ayub now wants him to clear the air. What should have been a triumphant night quickly turned into a flashpoint when the Australian tactician used his post-match press conference to hint at behind-the-scenes issues. 'There are some things internal, maybe a bit of betrayal, some politics, some obstacles we are confronting on a daily basis,' said Cklamovski. 'If we didn't beat Vietnam, it could have turned ugly. They would've come after us, after TMJ (Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim), after me. Suddenly, I'd be the bad coach. The players would've been targeted too, all over a result.' When asked to comment, Joehari held firm, urging the coach to provide further clarification. 'You'll have to ask Peter himself,' said Joehari. 'From FAM's side, we're doing everything we can to support Harimau Malaya. 'That much I'm certain of. What he said could be speculative. He should be the one to explain.' The post-match controversy didn't stop there. Questions have also emerged over the eligibility of several mixed heritage players recently called up to the national team, namely Argentinian-born centreback Facundo Garces, Spanish-born defender Jon Irazabal, Argentinian-born winger Imanol Machuca, Brazilian-born playmaker Jose Figueiredo, and Argentinian-born striker Rodrigo Holgado. Online chatter cast doubts on their Malaysian lineage but Joehari quickly shut down the speculation. 'Every one of these players were thoroughly vetted by FIFA. That's not a body you can take lightly,' he said. 'If we were wrong, it would be a serious offence. But they were cleared by the world body and that was enough for FAM.' Despite the off-field noise, Malaysia's strong showing against Vietnam has put them in a solid position heading into the final phase of qualifiers. Still, all eyes will be on Cklamovski, not just for results, but for how he handles the alleged internal storm.
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
A boon for FAM
PETALING JAYA: The appointment of Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin as the honorary president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has sparked some public debate, but current FAM president Datuk Joehari Ayub insists the move will not undermine his leadership. Hamidin, who served as FAM president from 2018 until stepping down earlier this year, became only the second person in the association's history to be bestowed the honorary title, following the late Sultan Ahmad Shah, who held the role for 30 years. The decision was formalised during FAM's extraordinary congress held yesterday, in accordance with Article 22 of the FAM statutes, which allows the title to be conferred on former presidents in recognition of their significant contributions to Malaysian football. While the honorary role comes without voting rights, it allows Hamidin to attend congress sessions and offer input in an advisory capacity. Some have criticised the move, citing past controversies and questioning the timing of the appointment. However, Joehari is adamant that the decision is not political but strategic. 'To be honest, this appointment is nothing personal,' said Joehari. 'Anybody can make assumptions or comments, but for us, we have to move forward. We believe Tan Sri Hamidin will add value to the organisation. That's how we feel.' Joehari emphasised that the honorary president's role is entirely separate from his own. 'We have different roles. Tan Sri will act more as an adviser, while I continue my duties as FAM president as usual. In fact, his presence could help improve decision-making across the board.' He added that Hamidin's vast network in global and regional football circles including FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Asean Football Federation (AFF), as well as various government and private bodies, is a major asset to FAM. 'We need Tan Sri's connections with FIFA, AFF, AFC, the Malaysian government and also private entities. Seeing all these, we felt it was the right decision to appoint him as the honorary president,' said Joehari. The appointment received unanimous support from FAM's affiliates, with no objections raised during the congress. 'This is a lifelong position, but we'll still include it as a standing agenda item at every general meeting,' Joehari clarified. 'Everyone has their own credibility and this move is about enhancing ours.'
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Cklamovski should explain after dropping bombshell
SUBANG JAYA: FAM president Datuk Joehari Ayub has urged everyone to stay calm after national head coach Peter Cklamovski's explosive remarks following Malaysia's 4-0 win over Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier recently. Joehari said Cklamovski should clarify his claims of "internal sabotage" and "political interference". "We need to find out what Cklamovski meant by that," said Joehari after FAM's Extraordinary Congress at a hotel in Subang Jaya today. During a post-match interview at Bukit Jalil on June 10, Australian Cklamovski claimed that if Malaysia had lost to Vietnam, he and the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, would have come under fire from some people. Cklamovski's startling words then were: "Internal matters are going on, elements of betrayal, politics, and daily internal challenges we face. "If we hadn't won tonight, they would have gone after TMJ (Tunku Ismail), they would have gone after me, saying I'm a terrible coach. They would have blamed the players. But now, suddenly, they'll become our best friends. That's good, because we're united as a country." Cklamovski's tense comments raised eyebrows, as football fans speculated and discussed the cause of his unhappiness. Responding to Cklamovski's post-match comments, Joehari said today FAM remains fully behind the Harimau Malaya project, and urged the media not to jump to conclusions. "We, at FAM, support the national team 100 per cent, that I am sure of. Our support for Harimau Malaya is strong and consistent. "What has been said is speculative, and to be fair, better ask Cklamovski himself to explain what he meant by that." Though Joehari has responded to the issue, football followers will be wondering what is happening behind closed doors after the Cklamovski bombshell. At the congress, Joehari also talked about the national team's heavy reliance on heritage players, and emphasised that FAM had followed all procedures to the highest level.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Cheng Hoe's back – but this time as team technical director
PETALING JAYA: Former national team coach, Tan Cheng Hoe, has been confirmed to return to Harimau Malaya, but this time in a different role. Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president, Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub, confirmed the news yesterday, stating that Cheng Hoe will take up the position of technical director, putting an end to the speculation surrounding the 56-year-old coach's return to Kelana Jaya. 'It is confirmed that he (Cheng Hoe) will be the technical director for Harimau Malaya. In terms of merit, he certainly has the experience to help the team,' said Joehari. Cheng Hoe took over as head coach of the national team in 2017 after Nelo Vingada's departure, successfully revamping the team's image and playing style, leading them to become runners-up in the 2018 AFF Cup. The Alor Setar-born coach also led Harimau Malaya through an impressive start to the World Cup qualification campaign. However, his time with the national team came to an end in 2022 after he resigned following the team's failure to reach the AFF Cup 2020 final. He then moved to Thailand with Police Tero last year, but his stint with the club was short-lived, lasting only four months. At the same time, Joehari revealed that, alongside Cheng Hoe, the FAM have appointed Kuala Lumpur chief executive officer (CEO) Stanley Bernard as the deputy chief executive officer of Harimau Malaya, while former Terengganu sports director Zul Fadli Rozi will take on the role of national team coordinator. Both will support Harimau Malaya's CEO, Rob Friend, in managing the team. Their first task is to ensure Malaysia secures a victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualification match, which will take place at the Bukit Jalil Stadium on June 10.
