Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Football Association (Safa) are on the right track to identify football talents at the grassroots level.
Its president Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said this in his speech delivered by Safa vice president Datuk Alijus Sipil during the handing over of equipment to 20 Safa affiliates and 31 football academies at a ceremony held at Hilton Hotel here on Monday.
He believes the establishment of football academies is a positive development not only for the children to learn the sport but may also create a bright future for them.
“I welcome the existence of more academies to further boost the development of football in Sabah and I personally agree that the effort to produce talented back-up players needs to start at the grassroots level.
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“I can assure you, the cooperation between the academies in the districts and Safa in organising football training will continue to be strengthened and we will try our best to help all the academies in their efforts to develop the sport,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to all members of Safa as well as the staff and coaches of the academies for their hard work and commitment in carrying out their tasks.
Also present at the ceremony were two other Safa vice presidents, Datuk Ruddy Awah and Rafie Robert, appointed supreme council member Datuk Al Hambra Tun Juhar, Datuk Ong Kim Swee and other top officials.
Meanwhile, the ceremony was preceded with a briefing session for the attendees with Rafie who is also Safa technical and youth football development committee chairman and also a football sharing session with Ong.
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