Future plans: Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin having a chat with new interim coach Pau Marti Vicente in Mallorca, Spain.
PETALING JAYA: Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin admitted he was taken back and disappointed upon learning of Kim Pan-gon’s sudden resignation as Harimau Malaya head coach.
Pan-gon announced his resignation as the national team coach due to personal commitments at a press conference on Tuesday.
“It’s a surprise to me as Pan-gon, who took over the reins of national team head coach in 2022, had previously said he was fully committed to seeing out his contract with Harimau Malaya until December 2025.
“But coaches come and go. We have to accept this. I want to thank Pan-gon because, in the two-and-a-half years he was with us, the national team’s ranking improved and Malaysia qualified on merit for the Asian Cup Finals after 42 years. His huge contribution will never be forgotten.
“So, even though Harimau Malaya will be without Pan-gon, I hope all Malaysians will give their undivided support to Pau Marti Vicente, who will be at the helm starting with the 2024 Merdeka Football Tournament in September,” said Hamidin in a posting on FAM’s Facebook page.
Hamidin met up with Vicente to discuss Harimau Malaya’s direction and plans in Mallorca, Spain yesterday.
Hamidin is the Malaysian chef de mission for the 2024 Paris Olympics and is in Spain to monitor the national track cycling team who are going through training camp. Vicente is on holiday in Spain as well.
At the press conference, Pan-gon was also asked to clarify what he meant when he mentioned that it was dangerous to explain the reason behind his resignation as the Harimau Malaya head coach.
The Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim wrote on his official X account that the South Korean should be specific about what he said in the press conference.
“What’s so difficult? Let the lot of them ask him what he meant by saying it is ‘dangerous’. The fans, politicians and media. Ask him what he meant by ‘dangerous’.
“Be more specific. Scared to be shot? Scared to be kidnapped? Of being kicked? Be direct!” said Tunku Ismail.
The crown prince was responding to a posting from social media user @RimauXI, who posted a video clip taken from Pan-gon’s press conference.
In the video, Pan-gon was responding to a question about what changed since his previous press conference when he expressed his desire to continue to improve the national team.
Pan-gon responded by saying: “Same answer. I speak to Datuk president ( FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin) every single day. That I cannot talk to you ... here ... very danger(ous). He knows all the details. So that thing ... I must honour each other.”
But Pan-gon has since come out to clarify what he meant in a meeting with Tunku Ismail later in the evening.
Pan-gon had explained his choice of words were not accurate because of his poor command of English.
His real meaning is about matters related to tactics and team development that may be used by the opponent as an advantage if it is revealed to the public.
“I have never felt unsafe in Malaysia and it may be because of my poor command of English that this misunderstanding occurred,” he explained.
