Exco: Selangor FC committed to prioritising local talent development

New Straits Times

10-07-2025

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Football Club (Selangor FC) remains committed to prioritising the development of local football talent, the Selangor State Assembly was told today (July 10).
State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman (Exco) Mohd Najwan Halimi said that, nonetheless, Selangor FC still need to identify and recruit heritage players playing abroad to strengthen and improve the team's performance in domestic and Asian-level football competitions.
He said this hybrid approach aligns with the modernisation of the football industry both domestically and internationally, and helps enhance Selangor FC's competitiveness.
"Selangor FC believes that this hybrid approach can elevate the team's competitiveness to a higher level while preserving the pride and identity of the club among the people of Selangor," he said.
He was responding to a question from Noor Najhan Mohamad Salleh (PN-Sementa), who asked whether the Selangor Football Association (FAS) would adopt the approach of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in recruiting national heritage players.
Mohd Najwan said that recruiting quality heritage players from Europe would improve Selangor's squad, but at the same time, various initiatives and coordination efforts continue at the grassroots level to bridge the quality gap between heritage and local players.
He said Selangor FC, FAS, and the state government have worked closely in implementing programmes aimed at strengthening and empowering the football development system in Selangor.
"Programmes for coach, referee, and amateur team development, as well as systematic state-level football leagues across various age groups organised by FAS, have established a solid foundation for local players to develop their talents.
"Selangor FC, in turn, places emphasis on talent scouting programmes and the development of elite and internationally recognised local coaches, to ensure that the best local players at each age level are identified and receive high-quality training," he said.
Mohd Najwan added that Selangor FC have also established many strategic partnerships with professional football clubs in Europe and Asia, enabling local players to undergo training and gain international-level exposure in order to narrow the gap between local and foreign players. — BERNAMA