PETALING JAYA, 21 Sept – It was never smooth going for former national coach, B. Satinathan who virtually fought a lone battle on and off the field as the Selangor head coach, especially this season’s curtailed M-League due to coronavirus (Covid-19).
Satianathan had his contract terminated today (Sept 21) – just three days after the Red Giants fell to a 6-1 defeat at the hands of six-time Super League champions, Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
Two weeks earlier at the same venue, JDT crushed Perak 7-0 for the biggest win in the league so far this season.
Somehow, Perak’s Australian coach, reportedly the highest-paid coach in Malaysia, survived the calls for his removal – thanks to the Perak management’s sound judgment in deciding on the prosecution by the social media.
Satianathan is not lucky in this respect. It must be noted that the Selangor management had already hinted that Satianathan’s contract will be reviewed at the end of the season just days before the M-League resumed officially on Aug 28.
Selangor FA secretary, Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon chucked professionalism out of the window with that statement before the Red Giants played Petaling Jaya City FC to a draw on Aug 29.
Satianathan’s job was already on the guillotine as the Selangor management sided the “hidden hands” that called for his removal and had more trust in a “Mat Saleh” – and it did not matter if the foreigner wins or loses matches.
The ”hidden hands” are agents who make big bucks in commissions that come with it which is quite a norm in Malaysian sports scenes.
While Satianathan gave a 120 per cent in his job as a professional, did the Selangor FA management do the same?
It is quite a norm in Malaysian sports to find a scapegoat. And there is no denying that racism exists in Malaysia although the politicians and the big guns are always in “denial mode” where truth is killed.
One also wonders why the rush in sacking Satianathan with three more matches to be completed in the league starting with this Saturday’s match against surprise package UiTM who have become giant killers in their own way.
The Selangor management will have a lot to answer instead of making Santianathan a scapegoat! For one, the management should be professional and come clean in their decisions.
Take a hard look at those who harped on race and religion. There is no denying that that there are those, including a player, who were given a “free reign” in instaging racial hatred in a multi-racial nation like Malaysia.
So much so, Satianathan even made a police report when his family became a target of hate just because of his race and religion.
Also take a hard look at the “hidden hands”‘ instead of just telling that Satianathan did not get full support of his players when in fact it is the other round.
Frankly, the players threw their full support for their “very professional” coach when Dr Kamal chose to be unprofessional.
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