KUALA LUMPUR: NFDP Sarawak has warned that the ongoing restructuring of the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) could have serious implications for grassroots football development in the state.
The restructuring follows the transfer of the NFDP from the National Sports Council (NSC) to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), resulting in a budget reduction of up to 35 per cent.
Datuk Ong Kim Swee, who was appointed NFDP director on Dec 1, said the funding cut has forced difficult decisions, including the selective renewal of coaching contracts nationwide.
Several coaches at the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD) and NFDP centres across the country have been informed that their contracts will not be extended, with some staff reportedly notified as late as Dec 19.
Ong said the restructuring is necessary to improve standards and ensure a consistent pipeline of players for the national team.
Against this backdrop, NFDP Sarawak highlighted the potential impact of the changes on youth football development in the state.
“Since its establishment in 2010, NFDP Sarawak has supported grassroots development through a network of Akademi Tunas, District Training Programmes and Sarawak State Sports School centres in Kuching, Bau, Samarahan, Serian, Bintulu and Miri,” it said in a statement.
“Beyond producing quality players, the programme has contributed significantly to character-building, discipline, educational opportunities and clear development pathways for young Sarawakians.”
It added that the programme has served more than 2,400 players and provided structured pathways into elite levels, including the Sarawak State Sports School elite squad.
“The uncertainty over the future of these centres could disrupt player development and affect families, coaches and communities, particularly in rural and interior areas,” it said.
As such, NFDP Sarawak has called on FAM and state football associations to engage in discussions with the Malaysian and Sarawak Youth and Sports Ministries to carefully consider the implications of the restructuring.
“Any decisions involving the closure or reduction of training centres must prioritise the welfare of young players and safeguard long-term football development,” it said.
“Youth development through sport remains a long-term investment in Sarawak’s future and should not be compromised by administrative or financial changes.”
Separately, former NFDP coaching education head Datuk Richard Scully questioned the short notice given to staff and warned that the loss of experienced coaches could disrupt the development system.
Scully reportedly said some coaches, including those who had served for more than a decade, were taken by surprise by the sudden termination of their contracts despite having undergone performance reviews earlier this year.
