PARENTS and society at large must change their rigid outlook of dismissing football as a profession if Malaysia wants to produce top-class players, a young coach said.

Mallek Halimi Rizal, the head coach at Total Football Academy in Damansara Damai, believes that the current local culture steers young people towards traditional academic professions such as law, banking, or medicine, rather than considering football as a viable career option.

“Often, parents of teenagers might prefer their child to take a ‘break’ from training when exams are approaching. However, many studies have shown that achieving academic excellence and reaching a high level of performance in sports can go hand in hand,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“The way our society views progression in football development needs to change, and this applies to most of us,” he added.

Mallek said this change is not only about allowing young players to choose football as a career but also about how they perform on the pitch.

“If you attend a youth football match, you’ll see what I mean. Adults often scream and yell at young players – players who just want to enjoy the game. We rob these young minds of their decision-making abilities. Whether it’s coaches, parents, owners, or supporters, the pressure we put on them to ‘Shoot!’ or the criticism when they make a mistake is unnecessary.

“So what if they make a wrong decision? Why do we need to shout at them in a public match in front of so many people? These are boys and girls aged 5-16. Let that sink in. This is the biggest challenge we face,” he said.

Mallek, 29, is accredited as a coach by both the English FA and the Malaysian FA. With over five years of experience in coaching children and teenagers in the U16 category, he recently co-founded the Total Football Academy with two friends, Amri Hassan and Adi Hassan. Their goal is to produce top-class youth players and give them the opportunity to be signed as professional players.

When asked about the involvement of female players in youth football, Mallek noted that several women’s teams are part of academies and clubs.

“There could be more. As an owner of Total Football Academy, I encourage everyone to include all female footballers who want to play. Be supportive of their needs and provide them with equal opportunities. Every academy, club, coach, and parent can do their part. I believe there is a future for women’s football here,” he said.

Amri pointed out that women’s football in Malaysia continues to face challenges such as limited facilities, funding, and societal attitudes that may not fully support women in sports. Despite these obstacles, he sees significant potential and a promising future for women’s football in the country.

“By investing in grassroots programmes, increasing visibility, and providing more opportunities, we can encourage more young girls to participate and excel in football,” he said. “With the right support and investment, Malaysia can build a strong and competitive women’s football scene,” he added.

Adi emphasised that women’s sports, including football, should be promoted from the school level upwards. He stressed that young talents should be allowed to express themselves through various channels, not just relying on clubs or academies.

“Opportunities should be created and properly channelled to ensure these girls and women have the chance to showcase their skills as footballers,” he said. – August 19, 2024.