KUALA LUMPUR — Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar should use his defeat in the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) presidential election as motivation to transform Selangor into a powerhouse of Malaysian football, said senior sports analyst Sadek Mustaffa.
Speaking to Scoop, the Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) sports science lecturer said Shahril should focus on strengthening football in Selangor over the next three years before considering another bid for the FAM presidency in 2029.
“Shahril needs to transform Selangor football into a giant of Malaysian football within three years before the next leadership election is held again,” he said.
Shahril, who is the Football Association of Selangor (FAS) deputy president, lost the FAM presidential race to Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan at the association’s extraordinary congress on September 17, securing five votes against Ab Ghani’s 20.
The election was held to fill the top leadership position following the mass resignation of FAM’s previous executive committee earlier this year amid the fallout from the controversy involving seven heritage players and subsequent action by FIFA.
Despite failing to secure the presidency, Shahril remains involved in Malaysian football through his responsibilities in Selangor.
He has served as FAS deputy president and chaired Selangor FC’s technical committee, contributing to the club’s sporting direction.
His involvement has included overseeing aspects of the club’s sporting development, including the appointment of German coach Michael Feichtenbeiner as head coach for the 2022 season.
At the time, Shahril said Selangor’s vision was to build a strong team for the future by combining young players with experienced campaigners.
He also played a role in Selangor’s efforts to have the 2024 Charity Shield against Johor Darul Ta’zim postponed following the assault on winger Faisal Halim, with the club citing safety concerns.
Shahril’s experience extends to the national level, having previously served as an FAM vice-president, chairman of the association’s sponsorship and marketing committee, and manager of the national under-23 squad.
However, he resigned from all his FAM positions in June 2024, saying he wanted to focus on his responsibilities with FAS and Selangor FC.
His return to the national stage through this year’s presidential contest marked another attempt to assume a leading role in Malaysian football, but delegates instead gave Ab Ghani a clear majority.
Sadek said Shahril should remain committed to Selangor rather than allowing the election defeat to affect his involvement in the sport.
“To those who lost in the election, do not be disappointed or lose hope. Maintain your existing commitment at the state, association and club levels,” he said.
“Do not forget to rise again in 2029.”
Shahril has accepted the outcome and said he would continue contributing to Malaysian football through FAS and Selangor FC.
Sadek believes the next three years present Shahril with an opportunity to demonstrate his leadership at state level, with Selangor’s transformation potentially serving as a measure of his achievements.
Building a stronger Selangor football structure, alongside tangible results on and off the pitch, could provide Shahril with a clearer record ahead of any future FAM presidential contest.
For now, Sadek’s message is for Shahril to focus on turning his existing responsibilities in Selangor into meaningful progress for the state’s football ecosystem before the next FAM leadership election in 2029. — September 21, 2026