KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor must stop playing the victim and take responsibility for their shortcomings, says Malaysian football legend Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan following their FA Cup semi-final exit.
Zainal directed his criticism at chief executive officer Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon and the club’s leadership, particularly after head coach Kim Pan Gon called for the Malaysian Football League (MFL) to investigate incidents surrounding the defeat.
“I am not one to meddle in other people’s affairs, but Selangor and their management must look into the mirror before pointing fingers at referees, the MFL, and FAM. My question to Dr Johan is simple – until when do you intend to keep playing the victim?
“Since taking the helm, not a single piece of silverware has been won. Yet, whenever the team falters, their own planning and blueprint are never questioned,” Zainal said.
The former national striker, who previously served on the MFL board and its technical committees, also warned against undermining the country’s football governing bodies.
“Do not, just because your own team suffered defeat, burn down the entire house and drag the industry down with you,” he said.
Zainal acknowledged Selangor supporters’ high expectations but questioned whether the management was responding to pressure from the fanbase.
“Is the management deflecting blame simply because they dread the wrath of their own supporters? Selangor fans are inherently demanding, and rightfully so, because the prestige and history of this club are immense.
“I played for Selangor in 10 cup finals — that was the benchmark. That was the real Selangor,” he said.
He recalled how he was dismissed midway through a season despite Selangor sitting among the league’s top three, after Mehmet Durakovic had guided the club to the 2015 Malaysia Cup title.
“When I replaced Mehmet, and we were sitting in the top three halfway through the league, I was dismissed as well. Did I go around blaming others? No. I accepted it and moved on. So management must examine themselves before hunting for scapegoats,” he said.
On the defeat by Kuching City, Zainal blamed what he viewed as tactical shortcomings and poor execution, while also pointing to exchanges between the coach and players during the match.
“The harsh truth is that this defeat came down to tactical failure and poor execution. During the match itself, you could visibly see the coach and players squabbling with one another on the pitch.
“When you have glaring internal discord right before your eyes, on what grounds can you turn around and blame external parties?” he said.
He also rejected suggestions that refereeing decisions had given Kuching an advantage.
“The winning goal did not come from a referee’s whistle. It came from an own goal scored by Selangor’s own player. Match officials are human and make errors — Maradona scored with his hand (Hand of God) in front of the whole world — but there was absolutely nothing in this match that offered Kuching City an undue advantage,” he said.
“Kuching are a hungry, rising side and formidable on their home turf. Selangor had clear-cut chances that they threw away. Fix your own players and address your tactical setup.”
Zainal urged the squad to focus on improving, recalling how extra training helped him adapt from defence to attack and become a four-time Golden Boot winner.
“When I transitioned from defence to attack and couldn’t score, my coach dragged me through extra tactical drills. I didn’t blame anyone, I worked, and I went on to win the Golden Boot four times. Stop looking for fall guys just to appease the gallery, and start doing the hard work internally,” he said.
Timesport has reached out to Selangor and Dr Johan for comment.