National U-17 league to get underway next month

Ministry of Education (MoE), together with the support of the FA of Malaysia (FAM), will be organising an Under-17 (U-17) league which is scheduled to begin sometime next month (April).

FAM secretary-general, Stuart Ramalingam, said that MoE will organise the league and implement a structure similar to that of the President’s and Youth Cups.

“The discussions on this league are still ongoing in stages as youth sides from Super League and Premier League teams could take part in the league and compete together with sports schools.

“The registration of teams for this league closed last week, and sometime between now and next week, a meeting will be held between teams and sports schools, but what I can tell you is that discussions with the MoE have gone really well.

Stuart also pointed out that youth sides from Super League and Premier League teams will also be taking part in the league.

“The involvement of youth sides from Super League and Premier League teams will enhance the league not just in terms of the quality of football played, but their participation will hopefully improve the level of football in the country in the long run.

“In Selangor, for example, the social leagues are running well and it has improved tremendously over time, and this is a really good example of how grassroots football can improve by leaps and bounds.

“It is after all the responsibility of each state’s football association to identify and develop footballing talent from early on,” he said.

Stuart did not discount the possibility of FAM perhaps taking the lead from next year onwards, but for now the country’s football governing body will focus on coaching, education, licensing, refereeing and other technical aspects of the local leagues.