KUALA LUMPUR – Former national football players have voiced their frustration with the Youth and Sports Ministry over the poor condition of the newly upgraded zeon zoysia pitch at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
Their response came after the opening fixture, in which Malaysia secured a 4-2 victory against India at the Merdeka Tournament where patches of the zeon zoysia grass were observed forming at various parts of the field.
Speaking to Scoop, Malaysian football legend Datuk Dell Akbar Khan expressed his disappointment with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh and her ministry, suggesting they should take responsibility for the refurbishment project rather than making baseless comments.
“The minister should not blindly take credit and make statements that the pitch will not have any issues in the future.
“The fans have seen the condition of the pitch, and it’s absurd for the minister to make such statements without proper knowledge of the field.
Dell was referring to the statement given by the minister that she’s confident that the newly upgraded pitch will sustain its longetivity for years to come.
“The ministry should have firmly advised Malaysia Stadium Corp (PSM) to monitor the pitch’s condition before allowing renters to use it for matches.
“Although the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is partially to be blamed for insisting on holding the Merdeka Tournament in the Bukit Jalil stadium without allowing time for the pitch’s roots to strengthen, PSM must also take the blame for not being firm in their decision to reject FAM’s request.
“As the key decision-maker with expertise in this situation, PSM should have been bold enough to say no to FAM instead of simply agreeing to their requests,” he said.
Dell also criticised Kim Pan-gon’s statements after the post-match conference, suggesting that the South Korean was being cautious with his words.
“I don’t understand why Pan-gon was cautious with his words. He could have been straightforward in criticising the pitch’s standard.
“It’s clear that the standard of the pitch was horrifying, and I believe Pan-gon should stop protecting FAM’s image.
“Even though it was not entirely FAM’s fault, Pan-gon should be allowed to express his thoughts without holding back,” said the former Kuala Lumpur police chief.
Former defender Datuk Santokh Singh, who played a significant role in Malaysia’s qualification for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, shared a similar sentiment, stating that the pitch’s condition affects Malaysia’s international image and should be well-maintained.
“The government should take responsibility for the pitch’s upkeep at any cost, as it is related to our national integrity.
“The poor condition of the pitch after yesterday’s match has tarnished the reputation of the historic Merdeka Tournament.
“I will be watching the final against Tajikistan at Bukit Jalil Stadium and I hope to see improvements made to the pitch’s condition,” said the former Selangor player.
Malaysia is set to face Tajikistan in the final match of the 42nd edition of the Merdeka Tournament on October 17, 2023. – October 14, 2023
