THE Malaysian Football Association (FAM) is looking to cooperate with the Malaysian Chinese Football Association (MCFA) to encourage more Chinese to get involved in the local football scene.

FAM president Hamidin Mohd Amin in a statement on Facebook said FAM, in collaboration with MCFA would be launching a special programme to encourage more Chinese to join, whether as players, referees, coaches or officials.

“In the 1970s, we had national assets such as Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Wong Choon Wah and then Lim Chan Yew, Wong Sai Kong, Wong Kah Loon, Chan Wing Hoong, and today, we have Dominic Tan and Damien Lim.

“We also currently have Tan Cheng Hoe, Datuk Ong Kim Swee and Chiew Chun Yong in our coaching ranks. Hence, we must increase our efforts in promoting the sport in all aspects,” Hamidin said.

Hamidin also praised the efforts and contributions of the Chinese in promoting local football during his visit to the MCFA in Bukit Jalil today.

During the meeting, the FAM was informed that the main reason for the shortage of Chinese players in local football was because parents did not understand the sports ecosystem, which could also pave the way for other careers such as businesses supplying football equipment and as football agents.

The MCFA also emphasised the importance of producing more Chinese players from the grassroots-level to attract more of them to join competitions in school.

This was FAM’s sixth courtesy call, with previous ones held in Penang, Kedah, Sabah, the Football Coaches Association of Malaysia and the Malaysian Malays Football Association, with plans to visit other states in stages in the near future.

The visits are aimed at providing a clear and detailed description of FAM’s future plans through the F:30 road map as well as key elements towards achieving the mission, especially in terms of cooperating with associations and affiliates.

Hamidin added that the move was in line with the Affiliates Capacity Enhancement (ACE) Project which was also launched last year, after the F:30. – Bernama, October 22, 2019.