KUALA LUMPUR: An award-winning grassroots football coach in Malaysia hopes that talents outside the traditional pathway are considered for a place in the national set-up.
Referring to the National Football Development Programme (NFDP), N. Radha Krishnan, who runs Youth Football Academy (YFA) Red Star, highlighted that there were many young talented footballers across the nation waiting to be given a chance to showcase their abilities. Radha was runner-up for the Asian Football Confederation Best Grassroots Leader award in 2018.
“Not all students or parents want to go through the Akademi Mokhtar Dahari route. Some opt to study and train outside that system. But that does not mean they are not good enough for the national team,” Radha told Twentytwo13.
“I brought this matter up to (NFDP technical director) Datuk Ong Kim Swee. I even told him I am willing to send at least 10 boys for selection to see if they are qualified to be part of the national junior football teams.”
Radha pointed out that he had set up his academy well before the existence of Akademi Mokhtar Dahari, the NFDP and Johor Darul Ta’zim’s academy.
“I have produced players who have played high-level football since 2000. These players did not go to any sports school.”
Among the players who graduated from YFA were M. Kogileswaran Raj, Muhammad Fahmi Daniel, Zachy Raiff, Muhd Azeem Farhan Fazis Iskandar, Timothy Lau and Dinesh Rajasingam.
“There are many players who can play but do not want to sacrifice their education. This is the feedback I have received and, as such, parents are reluctant to send them away. They prefer that their children study and train under their watchful eyes.
“Do we then deny these talented players an opportunity?”
Radha urged stakeholders to publicly announce selection sessions, including in remote areas.
“There are many players even in Sabah and Sarawak. Who is looking at these players?
“I’ve done my job. We have proven that we produce good players. Many other coaches have done the same as well. Now we truly hope that these children will be given an equal chance to prove their worth.”
