Under-16 and 15 teams to train in Slovakia

Slovakia has invited FA of Malaysia (FAM) to send the National Under-15 and Under-16 squad for training and to participate in their youth league next year.

FAM deputy president KDYTM Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah said the offer was made in recognition of Malaysia winning the AFF-Suzuki Cup last year.

"This is a good opportunity for the youngsters to gain exposure. We will work out the details together with the Education Ministry," he told reporters after chairing a meeting of FAM's technical and youth development committee at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, Tuesday.

Last year, FAM sent the National Under-21 squad for training in Slovakia whereby the team played in the Slovakian League from February till May, which paid huge dividends as most of the players who played in the AFF-Suzuki Cup were from it.

Tengku Abdullah also said the meeting decided to give Malaysia's Olympic squad coach Ong Kim Swee the opportunity to coach the National-Under 23 team in preparing of the SEA Games in Indonesia in November.

"His target is to defend the title we won at the last SEA Games in Laos. We want our coaches to have the exposure in preparing team for tournaments like SEA Games   ," he said.

National chief coach K.Rajagobal has been given new targets, which include the pre-World Cup, to defend the AFF-Suzuki Cup and also to qualifying for the 2015 Asian Cup.
The meeting also appointed Ismail Ibrahim as the Head Coach of the National Under-19 team and Aminuddin Hussin as the National Under-18 Head Coach.
Meanwhile, KDYTM Tengku Abdullah has proposed that a panel be set up to widen the talent pool of footballers in the country.
“Just look at Japan, they have some 200,000 youngsters to draw from. I believe with a more coordinated effort we took can widen the talent base.”