On very rare occasions, our local football fans do not mind that their government’s spending goes towards a ‘national’ football programme like the National Football Development Programme (NFDP).
The programme is seen as an investment that benefits their children – a chance for their children to get into professional football and an opportunity to play abroad.
Of course, it is no such thing.
The likelihood of playing in the top tier of European football is similar to winning the lottery. The competition from other well-established academies with a legacy of producing world-class talents like the Sporting Academy (now known as Academia Cristiano Ronaldo) makes it even more challenging to penetrate top tier European football.
The reality is really more saddening for the average graduates. With no professional teams in Malaysia interested to hire them, remaining in football with no proper plan is like playing with Tinder.
And when the fans and parents of footballers realise (which happens very quickly) that this is all but a far-fetched dream, they’ll wave their arms and legs demanding for government spending to go towards the development of public commodities instead – like a public football pitch or futsal court. Which is rightly so.
But do we still need the NFDP?
I have always thought that if we went along with the notion that youth development is only the role of the professional football clubs, nothing good will ever happen to our youth football. So I do believe that in present circumstances, NFDP is still very relevant and much needed.
Having said so, addressing the issue regarding the placements of ‘average’ NFDP graduates through the newly set up FA of Malaysia (FAM)-National Sports Council (NSC) Project Squad is a disaster waiting to happen.
We had a similar project not too long ago called ‘Harimau Muda’ that failed. So yes, you can imagine, I thought this new Glee club was not a very bright one.
By the way, I was not the only one feeling nervous about this special project.
Former NFDP technical director Lim Teong Kim made it absolutely clear that this project is savage and devastating to the development of the NFDP graduates. There was no nicer way of putting it.
I would have thought that FAM and NSC would come up with a solution that would be a lot more comprehensive and inclusive.
Rather than placing these ‘average’ young players, in whom we have invested so much, into a single team that will be plundered by teams from the second tier of Malaysian football competition (Premier League), it would be best if we have them join lower league teams (M3 and M4) or even better, a university or college team competing at the university football league.
Both the solutions above would guarantee them a place in the first team which is paramount to their development. And both solutions would also provide them with an off-the-pitch environment that will help them grow into becoming professional players or simply matured men.
The university or college football team sounds a lot more exciting as it would also mean that they will gain a football scholarship to study and play. Most importantly, it provides an alternative if one chooses to opt out of football.
Today, however, the solution seems to do nothing except cost taxpayers more money – money that would be best channeled towards further developing our lower leagues or providing the NFDP graduates a scholarship to university. The investment should be towards the creation of an all-inclusive and extensive football ecosystem.
What is more alarming is the future of our young average talents. Groomed as an elite youth squad at the programme, are the boys truly prepared for the high competitive nature of the Premier League? Or will their spirit crumble and end their football career prematurely?
And that is what’s making me troubled. A very impressive team ruined.
This is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily represent the views of Twentytwo13.
