Back to grassroots for Women’s Football

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) hopes the five day FIFA-FAM Women Grassroots Course and Festival will be a catalyst to develop women’s football in all the states.
“We hope through this course, the participants will gain insights into how to develop and coordinate programs at grassroots and this will go a long way in helping raise the standard of women’s football in our country,” said FAM General Secretary, Dato’ Azzuddin Ahmad.
30 participants from all over the country are participating in this course being held at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil. Two Instructors from FIFA, Samuel Schweiggruber and former Germany’s national coach Monika Staab are conducting the course.
“The fact that many more wanted to attend this course is an indication of the growing interest in football and I believe this has got to do with the national team’s victory in the AFF-Suzuki Cup last year,” said Dato Azzuddin.

“Unfortunately we can only have 30 participants for this course.”

During the five days, the participants will be given an insight into FIFA’s development programs and the philosophy of grassroots football as well as world- wide development and newest trends in development programs.
There will also be sessions on basic skills and also preparation of grassroots football festival and tournaments.
FAM, according to Dato’ Azzuddin, disbanded the women's national football team after the 2009 SEA Games and senior players with vast experience would be considered for coaching jobs in the states.
"They will assist the FAM to identify talented players at the grassroots level. Before forming a new women's national squad, FAM would focus on programs aimed at developing the sport at grassroots level throughout the country, to unearth more players.

“Development programs at the grassroots level had already started in April last year but such programs involved only the Klang valley and Negeri Sembilan,’’ said Dato’ Azzuddin.

Meanwhile, former national skipper Angela Kais, 31, said though she was saddened by the decision to disband the women's national team, she welcomed FAM's decision to focus on grassroots development.

"Since the team has been disbanded, we will have no team to play but since we will still play a part in development programs organized by the FAM, it will us a chance to contribute our part, especially to identify new players," she said.