KUALA LUMPUR: Local football enthusiasts have been urged to give Robert Douglas Friend, a former Canadian national player, the opportunity to prove his capabilities as the new chief executive officer of the Harimau Malaya squad.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, local football observer Effendi Jagan Abdullah expressed discontent with some fans' skepticism regarding Rob Friend's appointment. Effendi stressed the importance of patience and support, emphasizing that success requires time and cannot be achieved instantly. He acknowledged the concerns raised on social media about Canadian football's quality but urged fans to focus on the potential benefits Friend could bring to the national team.
Effendi noted that despite Friend's extensive experience in Canadian football, he faces the challenge of adapting to the local football context to enhance the national team's performance. Adjusting to different mentalities and work methods at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya will be one of Friend's initial hurdles, according to Effendi. He remains hopeful that Friend's background as a former Borussia Monchengladbach player will contribute positively to Harimau Malaya's progress over the next three years.
The focus, Effendi suggested, should be on setting realistic goals, such as winning the ASEAN Cup, competing in the Asian Cup, and ultimately aiming for World Cup qualification. Meanwhile, local sports analyst Mohd Sadek Mustafa highlighted the importance of Friend's collaboration with local clubs to ensure player availability for the national team, particularly for matches outside the FIFA calendar.
Mohd Sadek also expressed hope that Friend could work closely with national head coach Peter Cklamovski and national Under-23 head coach Mohd Nafuzi Zain to revolutionize grassroots development. Rob Friend, originally from Rosetown, Saskatchewan, is set to turn 44 this month. He brings a wealth of experience in football management and administration, having retired as a player in December 2014.
Friend's career includes roles such as managing partner at DRG Investment Group, founder of Toca Football Canada, and managing partner at SixFive Sports Fund. He has co-founded the Canadian Premier League (CPL), significantly increasing its value, and has held executive positions at CPL clubs Pacific FC and Vancouver FC.