FOOTBALLERS wonder when they can return to the field as football is excluded from the number of sporting activities allowed during the relaxed movement-control order (MCO) from tomorrow.

Many don’t know when their next paycheque will arrive while some wonder what will become of their teams if the league is cancelled entirely.

They said the situation is uncertain and many are looking for alternatives to support themselves and their families.

Langkawi City’s right-winger Muhammad Azmi is optimistic that the division 3 M-League football club he plays for can advance to the premier league next season.

After winning one and drawing the other in the first two matches before the league season was temporarily shut down due to the MCO to curb Covid-19, Langkawi City are sitting in third place with four points.

However, Muhammad said he is more worried about survival now that the league was forced to end prematurely.

“We footballers probably have to find temporary jobs to survive if our football salary cannot be paid.

“We have to forget about football to focus on survival, even if that could cause us to lose our fitness and sharpness,” the full-time pro told The Malaysian Insight.

The 27-year-old fears that the league’s suspension could end his professional career, while he and his teammates worry about the status of their contracts and salaries.

“Our salary has already been cut by 30% in an agreement between players and the club and if the contract is terminated due to the cancellation of the league, we fear we will not get our salary,” he said.

Prior to the suspension of the league, Langkawi City were scheduled to play in the third round of FA Cup against Melaka United on March 17, which was then put on hold when Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced the MCO a day later.

The prime minister then said on Friday certain sporting activities will be allowed but sports involving crowds are not allowed.

“We were really looking forward to playing and giving Melaka United, a Super League team, a shock,” he said.

Muhammad, better known by his nickname Mat Mi, said uncertainty over salary is also affecting his wedding plans early next year.

“I might need to find another way to raise the money for my wedding. The monthly amount I give to my parents and siblings for the moment is unaffected as there is still some money left even after the deduction.”

The M3 League is only in its second season since its introduction in 2019. The league was previously known as the FAM League.

It has 20 teams, divided into two groups of 10 teams each.

The first match of the league was on March 7 and the last was to be on November 17

The Malaysian League has four divisions – Liga Super (first division), Liga perdana (second), Liga M3 (third) and Liga M4 (fourth).

Senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Wednesday the M-League might be allowed to resume in October or November.

Ismail Sabri also said popular spectator sports like football might need a one to four-month cooling-off period after the MCO is lifted.

For Ikram Muda FC striker, Muhammad Fakhrulrazi Mohamed Nordin, 26, delaying the resumption of the league by almost a year will ruin the players’ time and clubs’ planning.

The computer programmer, who plays part-time, said being a full-time professional footballer in Malaysia is a high-risk profession.

“With the league suspended for nearly a year, I think the future of professional footballers is uncertain.

“We’re new to the M League, but we’re excited and ready to prove something in the league,” said Fakhrulrazi, who wears the coveted No. 10 jersey.

“This year, we might be able to play well… win the league and qualify for the premier league, but all has been thwarted,” he said

In 2019, Ikram Muda FC were in the M4 League where they finished second to qualify for the play-off, where they beat KSR Science FC, and a place in the M3 League.

Ikram Muda FC, with three points from one win and one loss in their opening two games, sit in the ninth spot in the table.

Fakhrulrazi, like all players, is also grappling with salary issues but does not want to comment on the issue “to maintain the good name of the club”.

Another M3 striker, Nabilah Khan Razali, 29, who relies entirely on football is also worried over talks of the league’s cancellation.

“Our salaries have been uncertain the past few months. But what is worrying us most is if we can play again this year.

“If not, this will affect the players’ salaries. This will force the players to find work elsewhere to ensure they have money to meet monthly expenses,” he said.

Nabilah, however, refused to disclose whether players’ salaries for the MCO period have been paid as the matter is confidential and he has to protect the club’s reputation.

Since the league’s suspension, Nabilah started doing odd jobs, like selling sugar cane juice and “small businesses here and there to put food on the table”.

Asked if he ever thought of quitting the game for good since it had brought him so much problems in life, Nabilah said “no” as football runs in the blood. – May 3, 2020.