FAM call on the government to adopt RM60mil youth programme
BY ERIC SAMUELKUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) took yet another route in their bid to elevate the standard of Malaysian football with the launching of the Super League in a glittering ceremony at the Palace of the Golden Horses here last night.
It marked a new era since the game took an organised format in the country on a humble note with the Malaya Cup in 1921.
The deputy president of the FA of Malaysia (FAM), Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, said that it was hoped that with the launching of the Super League, all parties concerned would continue in their efforts to help bring back the glory years to the national team.
“As the saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. I hope that tonight will mark a new era for all involved to take a resolution to see the progress of the game to new heights,” said Tengku Abdullah.
And there was also a word of caution from Tengku Abdullah, who did not mince his words on getting rid of the deadwood from the game, which he said was a “survival of the fittest”.
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CUP OF HOPE: FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah (right) and Tengku Abdullah showing off the Super League Cup during the launching of the Super League at the Palace of the Golden Horses Sunday. |
It has been almost a decade now but the results are left to be desired based on the standard of the national team, who have failed to make an impact even at the regional level since the gold-medal winning effort in the 1989 SEA Games.
Tengku Abdullah said that the elite eight-team Super League was needed because of the poor quality of the previous years’ formats.
He added that the ban on cigarette companies’ sponsorship also called for some drastic measures.
The FAM’s long-term partnership with Dunhill comes to an end at the end of the year.
Tengku Abdullah said that they hoped to get support from the government, calling on the Sports Ministry to adopt a Youth Development Programme at a cost of RM60mil.
He also calls on the government to adopt the national team.
“The national team need a new structure to be backed by able and strong technical expertise. We hope that the government would be able to provide full support,” said Tengku Abdullah.
He also calls on the state governments to provide at least 10 acres of land to all their football associations for a technical centre to be set up to train players.
Tengku Abdullah also urged the companies to come forward to provide support and hoped that the media would play greater roles to build the football image and interest of the game in the nation.
“I hope the media would provide channels to become partners and we have secured various media agencies to be our main partners, providing extensive coverage of the Super League,” said Tengku Abdullah.
The Super League will be played over three rounds and it involves Perak, Kedah, Perlis, Sabah, Pahang, Penang, Sarawak and Selangor Public Bank.
The lower flight competitions in the M-League are an 18-team Premier League and the Premier Club championships.
The Premier League will be played in two groups of nine teams each and the groupings were decided last night.
In Group A are Johor FC, Malacca Telekom, Police, Kelantan JPS, Armed Forces, Selangor, Selangor PKNS, Brunei and Kelantan TNB.
Group B comprises Selangor MPPJ, Malacca, MK Land, Kelantan SKM, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, Negri Sembilan, Johor and Kelantan.
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