FAP calls on state FAs to push for more local talents

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 27 --The Football Association of Penang (FAP) today suggested that state FAs push for more opportunities for locals to play in the Malaysian leagues.

FAP president Datuk Abdul Rashid Ismail said the country's football arena should pay more attention to talent development from the grassroots level.

According to him, the culture of bringing in too many imported players can affect the chances of new local talents from playing in the country's football leagues.

"”As associations (for football), we need to revitalise the football arena from the bottom up… If we don’t find talent at the grassroots level, we won’t be able to produce the best football players.

"To me, we don’t need to take on too many imported players but instead unearth the existing local talents in the country… at the same time, we need to appoint some import coaches to work with local coaches in an effort to expose different ways of playing and techniques to the players,” he told Bernama after chairing the FAP Annual General Meeting at the Penang State Sports Council (MSNPP), here yesterday.

Abdul Rashid said the FAP would continue to strive to carry out talent search, organise competitions and training from the grassroots level in order to highlight local talents to have the opportunity to play in the major leagues in Malaysia.

He said that so far, there are 70 football teams registered with the FAP but there is less involvement from women and Persons with Disabilities (OKU).

"We are trying to find women and OKU talents and really expect cooperation from clubs and schools… for example, now we do not have a women's team whereas before we had a great team," he said.

-- BERNAMA