KOTA BHARU: The Golden Boot given out to the top scorer in the Malaysia League (M-League) at the end of the season must reflect the prestigious nature of the award, said former two-time winner Mohd Hashim Mustapha.
The 1993 and 1994 Golden Boot winner said the award was the highlight of the M-League as only one player was chosen to receive it.
“This won’t just bring back memories to the winners, but will also be a topic of discussion and even the pride of the players’ teams and states.
“The trophy must have its own value and not seen as something that’s simply given away,” he told Bernama.
There have been complaints of late that the Golden Boot trophies awarded to the top scorers were of inferior quality, with the boot’s gold paint either peeling off or fading.
The trophy given out last season was also trolled on social media and criticised for its weird design, which was seen as unsuitable for the climax of the footballing season.
Mohd Hashim also suggested that the trophy be given only to local players and not foreigners.
He said the award should be seen as a way to inspire local players to raise their performance and quality, which would then help the country produce players of calibre.
“I also agree that cash prizes should be given as a recognition for their contribution to football in the country, but the Golden Boot award must be continued,” he said. – Bernama
