MSN Optimistic NFDP Improvements Will Strengthen Malaysian Football
KUALA LUMPUR: National Sports Council (MSN) is optimistic that the restructuring of the National Football Development Programme (NFDP), carried out together with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), will positively impact the development of Malaysian football.
MSN director-general Jefri Ngadirin said the national Under-16 squad’s runner-up finish in the recent ASEAN Under-17 Championship showed that the ongoing improvements are beginning to produce results.
According to him, although Malaysia lost to Vietnam in the final, the overall performance of the young national squad was still encouraging as the team demonstrated noticeable progress compared to previous years.
“Although we lost to Vietnam, we managed to outperform several other countries such as Laos and others.
“These gradual improvements are intended to ensure NFDP players can be developed for greater success in the future,” he said.
He said this after attending the launch ceremony of Phase One of the 2027 ASEAN Para Games Camp at the Paralympic Sports Excellence Centre Complex today.
Jefri added that FAM has also introduced several key reforms involving organisational structure and coaching management within the NFDP and the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD).
According to him, all coaches are now managed under FAM while several administrative improvements have been implemented to strengthen the country’s youth football development system.
“We have appointed all coaches under FAM and the association has also introduced changes to the structure and coaching management within NFDP and AMD,” he said.
He noted that the measures are important to ensure grassroots football development can be carried out in a more organised and effective manner.
In another development, Jefri said MSN together with the Malaysia Paralympic Council (MPM) is currently conducting phased training camps for national para athletes in preparation for the 2027 ASEAN Para Games.
He said the training modules developed by the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) focus on mental strength and patriotism among athletes.
“For the first module, the aspects of nationhood and mental resilience are fully handled by ATM and the National Civics Academy to ensure athletes are mentally prepared,” he said.
According to him, the second phase of the camp is scheduled for January next year, while the third phase will be held in July 2027 after the final list of athletes is confirmed by MSN and MPM.
-wilayah.com.my
