Hope against hope

Former deputy president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah returned to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in emphatic fashion, leading a major shake up, in the governing body for football in the country.

In what was regarded as sweeping changes made by the 38 delegates from 19 affiliates who voted in the FAM Congress yesterday, Tengku Abdullah garnered 29 votes while Tan Sri Annuar Musa polled 23 votes to become the two new deputy presidents from 2010 to 2014.

The duo defeated incumbent Datuk Seri Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad and incumbent vice president Datuk Che Mat Jusoh together with Selangor FA deputy president Datuk Abdul Mokhtar Ahmad.

Incumbent president Sultan Ahmad Shah who is also the Sultan of Pahang was already retained as the President, unopposed, when nomination closed on July 18, paving the way for him to lead the association for another term since taking over the helm in 1984.

Another incumbent, deputy president Khairy Jamaluddin, did not seek re-election, citing his commitment to politics.

In another keenly contested race, Datuk Subahan Kamal pulled off a major upset by garnering the highest number of votes in the contest for four vice presidents, garnering 28 votes, while Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin (27), Datuk Affandi Hamzah (20) and Datuk Seri Abdullah Hishan Mohd Hashim (19) also walked in.

The big names that did not make it were Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, Datuk S. Subramaniam, Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim and Datuk Lawrence Gimbang.

There was also an element of surprise in the battle for eight executive council members with Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan, Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz, Mejar Rani Abdul Rahim, S. Sivasundram, Dr Hamdan Mohamed Khalib, Datuk Osman Salleh, Rosmadi Ismail and Datuk Jeffery Low Han Chau making the grade from the 13 candidates.

Those who did not make it included Tan Sri Mohd Noor Abdul Rahim, Datuk Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Datuk Ibrahim Shamsuddin and Wan Mohd Nizam Wan Omar.

Meanwhile, Tengku Abdullah told reporters after the Congress that he would discuss the mission and vision of FAM and the election of new office bearers, with his father, Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Tengku Abdullah who is also the Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) President said he would not have any problems with dividing his time between hockey and football.

"Football is always close to my heart," he said.

The deputy president's post was however, not new to Tengku Abdullah since he was first elected to the post in 1992 but decided to resign a year later, but was re-elected to the post again in February 1994, and held on to the post until calling it quits in 2007.

Annuar, who is also the Kelantan FA president and former Sports Minister said he has a few ideas to elevate the standard of football in the country, but would first seek the consent of Sultan Ahmad Shah, and the FAM council.

"There will be new initiatives to uplift the status of football in the country," he said.