NFDP CEO may reconsider his resignation

closed door meeting between Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Lim Teong Kim, the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD) director, is said to have been a positive one.

This was according to National Football Development Programme (NFDP) chief executive officer Safirul Azli Abu Bakar.

“They met privately, and Teong Kim gave his feedback regarding NFDP to the minister.

“He (Saddiq) himself took notes and understood what was said,” said Safirul, when met after the NFDP Townhall meeting in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

“Now we will leave it to the wisdom of the sports minister to consider and take the appropriate action accordingly.

“I saw a positive reaction, but I do not have the necessary details (what was discussed), so it is better for them to make it known to the public themselves.”

Safirul said he is not in a hurry to decide his own future if his resignation letter is rejected.

“My focus at the moment is to ensure that the NFDP programme continues to run, issues are solved and the programme is strengthened.

“I have to wait for the Sports Ministry and National Sports Council (NSC) to make a decision on whether or not to accept my resignation. After that we can talk about my future.

“If there are no better candidates to replace me and my services are needed, then I will have to reconsider it all once again.”

Safirul tendered his resignation after the national Under-16 squad failed to qualify for the Under-17 World Cup in Peru next year.

The team finished bottom of Group A in the recent AFC Championship, which served as a World Cup qualifier.