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Faissal Chehade, Director of the International Department at the Spanish club, trained the youth players of the team based in Kedah. The Malaysian club signed an agreement with LaLiga in November to create a solid grassroots football structure.
Alor Star, 10 February, 2023 – In its aim to develop and professionalize their youth academy, Hijau Kuning FC were able to count this week on the collaboration of CD Leganés, a club with a long career in the Spanish football elite and currently playing in LaLiga SmartBank. Their Director of the International Department, Faissal Chehade, travelled to Alor Star to conduct 3 days clinic for the Malaysian club’s youth footballers. He was able to put into practice first-hand the methodology of the successful youth academy model of the LaLiga clubs, which has been a hallmark of Spanish football for decades.CD Leganés has been one of the leading clubs in dealing with their youth academy in the region of Madrid for many years.
In November, LaLiga sealed an agreement with Malaysian football club Hijau Kuning FC, from the state of Kedah, to support the development of professional football in Malaysia by creating a solid grassroots football structure. Thanks to this partnership, LaLiga and its clubs are sharing their expertise and experience with the Malaysian club. In the first phase, three LaLiga teams whose youth academies are international reference points are participating: Club Atlético de Madrid, RCD Espanyol and CD Leganés are working with Hijau Kuning FC in different areas of the project.
Coaches from the local club have already travelled to Spain to work with the teams involved in this apprenticeship, as part of this agreement. And Faissal Chehade, on behalf of CD Leganés, wanted to go the opposite way, travelling to Kedah, in order to put into practice with the kids all this transfer of knowledge.
“Hijau Kuning FC representatives were very happy when we first met in Estadio Municipal Butarque in Leganés (Madrid) and we were pleased to get invited by them to conduct such type of a clinic were the main aim was to leave a positive impact on the young kids, make it as a valuable experience, share our knowledge through the game and as part of our strategy to explore different places around the world and get the people know about CD Leganés!”, stated Faissal Chehade, Director of the International Department o CD Leganés.
“HKFC is very pleased to have Mr. Faissal Chehade from CD Leganés to guide and be with us during 4 days of football camp in UUM, Kedah. Definitely his experience in developing youth footballers will give a huge benefit for HKFC players to become a professional football in the future. We also glad that Mr Adrian from LaLiga Office coming to patron this program. We believed that through LaLiga football methodology will enhance our players and coach competency. We hope that this collaboration will be strengthened in the future,” said Mr. Muhammad Talhah bin Zainol, President of Hijau Kuning FC.
The agreement runs for two years until July 2024. It was divided into three parts: A consultancy, designing of adapted youth academy methodology and philosophy which the club will develop with the support of LaLiga’s experts. A second phase includes support for the development of the plan designed and training of coaches and technical staff in the methodology and finally, third phase of consolidation of what has been implemented.
“Clinics like the one we have experienced this week at Alor Star demonstrate the shared commitment and passion of Hijau Kuning FC and LaLiga clubs to build strong structures for youth football, no matter the distance between one and the others. The impeccable work of CD Leganés is just a sample of the fruits that will be obtained thanks to the collaboration agreement signed three months ago with LaLiga, within one of its central projects, such as LaLiga Grassroots,” stated Adrián Prol, LaLiga Delegate in Malaysia.
With this agreement, LaLiga continues its strategy to support the development of professional football industry through grassroots football not just in Malaysia but also in Asia such as in Singapore, Japan and long-term educational projects such as an agreement with the Chinese Ministry of Education to teach football in schools. Includes the permanent LaLiga Academy and LaLiga Football Schools projects in countries such as India, Indonesia and Vietnam.
