LOCAL kids have all the potential of being super talented footballers, even as good as their European counterparts, and three aspiring football entrepreneurs aim to tap into that to achieve our own versions of Lamine Yamal or Jude Bellingham.

The trio believe that good coaching, adequate facilities and funding, as well as proper focus on sports science, proper diet and overall well-being are the key to encouraging and developing young football talents.

And in playing their part in unearthing the next Malaysian superstars, they are also confident of giving the right football education to the young players.

Mallek Halimi Rizal, Amri Hassan and Adi Hassan are childhood friends, and recently they set up a football coaching centre called Total Football Academy with the ultimate aim of creating as many players with professional contracts as they can.

“We want to give the best training model and structure that these young players deserve for their development. 

“We want to create a pathway for them that ultimately leads them to signing professional contracts. Our measure of success will be based on how many players we graduate with professional contracts,” said Halimi, who doubles up as the head coach at the centre.

He is also very keen on providing safety and protection for players and coaches so that they are not abused in any way.

“This will be an environment safe for the players and coaches to work in regardless of race or gender,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The 29-year-old Halimi brings a wealth of experience to his role as the head coach of the academy, being accredited by both the England FA and the Malaysian FA.  

A passionate Liverpool and Steven Gerrard supporter, he comes with more than five years of experience in coaching kids and teenagers of the U16 category. 

“My interest in coaching football started when I was 14. I remember starting to watch games differently, to start viewing situations off the ball. 

“Then I was introduced to the role of a coach; the person with the task of supervising these players. From then on, I knew being a coach is what I want to pursue for the rest of my life,” he said with a shy smile. 

“Halimi has always aspired to become a football coach. I believed in him from the very beginning. Now he is working on achieving that,” added his bestie Amri, who is also 29 and supports Manchester United.

Adi is Amir’s younger brother, and they are both entrepreneurs in their own right.

“Adi is a big Liverpool fan, just like Halimi, while I support Manchester United. Despite our differences in club allegiance, our shared love for  football is what unites us. Together, we aim to improve the football scene in this country  and make a real impact,” said Amri. 

When asked on the local grassroots football scene, the soft-spoken Amri was the most vocal.

He said the biggest issue in the local scene is football academies lacking facilities and funding, and compounded by political interference. 

“I’ve seen an academy with 40 students using only four footballs during training. This is unacceptable, as having more time on the ball is crucial for player development in grassroots football. 

“Many local academies are funded by football clubs with politically appointed chairpersons who are more interested in their own gain than in genuine football development. 

“This mismanagement often leads to issues like football clubs defaulting on players’ wages, which tarnishes the sport’s image and discourages young talent,” he said.

He said many local academies faced challenges such as inadequate resources and mismanagement, which affected the quality of training and overall player progression. 

“To address these problems and sustain the development of young talents, it’s crucial to improve facilities, reduce political influence and focus on proper sports education and infrastructure. 

“This approach will help ensure that the talent we produce can thrive and reach their full potential,” he said.

Playing total football

Amri believes in the potential of local kids, adding that to achieve success, “We need to start implementing the right technology and minimise political influence in sports”. 

“The local football league could significantly improve with proper education starting at the grassroots level, focusing on sports science,  proper diet, and overall well-being. If the sports industry addresses these issues, we can definitely produce world-class players,” he said.

He said they aimed to make a significant impact on the football scene in Malaysia with their academy.

“Our goal is to enhance the quality of football in Malaysia and elevate our country to be among the best in Southeast Asia and Asia,” he said, adding that their style of play in the academy is inspired by legendary Dutch master Johan Cruyff’s “total football” style.

Adi said world-class players can only be nurtured if they have the right mentality to be world-class on and off the pitch, and away from social issues.

That is what they aspire to teach in their academy.

“We want to educate a proper way of enjoying football, on and off the pitch, including ensuring safety and nurturing discipline. 

“We want to produce as many talents as possible and grow a grassroots academy and club that could cater Malaysia football with quality options of players,” said Adi.

He said that while there are various academies around the country, sadly the facilities in most of these places are not up to par, or they are being shared with other academies. 

Amri, meanwhile, felt there is still a shortage of football academies across the country, and that in the Klang Valley, the number of centres is not sufficient to meet the growing demand. 

The Total Football Academy conducts football training sessions for players from the ages of 5-16, for both male and female players, with a team of certified and dedicated coaches under the guidance of Halimi as the head coach.

The young players are introduced to football, learn the basics, develop their skills and build confidence with the ball. 

“We focus solely on football and cater to children aged 5 to 16. The sessions are divided by age groups: children aged 5-10 train from 8-9 am, and those aged 11-16 train from 9-10 am,” said Amri.

“We coach our players with basic, intermediate and advanced football training drills to improve grassroots football. Besides that, we educate teamwork, discipline and safety throughout the lessons held at our training facilities,” added Adi.

Their next plan is to set up the Total Football Club where players will train four days a week and play a league match every weekend in the Liga Superimau. 

Total Football Academy is located at NPNG Sports Centre in Damansara Damai. It can be contacted via its social media accounts. – August 19, 2024.