‘IT’S NOT A WASTE OF TIME’

Kim Swee sees positives in sending players for attachment with foreign clubs

THOUGH former Mokhtar Dahari Academy director Lim Teong Kim said it would be a “waste of time” for Malaysia to send footballers for attachments with foreign clubs, FAM believe in such a strategy.

FAM head of youth development Datuk Ong Kim Swee said providing attachments at an elite level is the pathway to setting up the youngsters for bigger, better things.

He pointed out that the players sent for attachments with clubs overseas will be thoroughly vetted by FAM, and they must have great potential and quality.

“We would like the players to be part of any attachments with foreign clubs but it must be a proper set-up,” said Kim Swee yesterday.

“All the big clubs in Europe have several tiers in their football academies and what we want is for our youngsters to train with their first youth team and not just a school academy.

“We must be particular but at the same time we must be realistic as we can’t just walk in and expect all this because in the long run, we expect these youngsters to get even contracts and it’s not easy to get there.

“We have to ensure we have the progression for many more generations to come as well as looking at programmes to ensure there is a continuity.”

The former national under-23 ) coach disclosed that following FAM’s partnership with Japan FA, they are now looking at South Korea and one or two clubs in Europe for training exposure.

Kim Swee pointed out that in fact many footballers playing in foreign leagues have claimed to have birthright to Malaysia, and that is seen as a positive indicator.

Teong Kim, a former assistant youth coach with Bayern Munich, had in an interview with Timesport on Thursday, said sending Malaysia’s youth footballers overseas for attachment with clubs would be a waste of time and affecting their education.

Kim Swee said FAM have been monitoring the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) graduates and he dismissed claims that they were “neglected” and their football careers in limbo.

“Some of them are with Selangor, some in other states. Brad Maloney’s (national under-19 coach) team come from them and this is where we give them exposure,” said Kim Swee.

“See how many tournaments they played last year? The Dubai trip where they trained, the AFF U19 Championship and even the AFC U19 Championship qualifiers.

“There is no question of us neglecting these players and letting them just play in the league. If they play in the Super or Premier League… for an 18-year-old to play at that level, it’s good,” added Kim Swee.