KUCHING – The Sarawak National Football Development Programme (NFDP) has called for continued collaboration between the Federal Government and the state to ensure that grassroots football in East Malaysia remains a priority.
The appeal follows the recent announcement by the Minister of Youth and Sports regarding the transfer of the NFDP and the Academy Mokhtar Dahari (AMD) to the management of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
NFDP Sarawak welcomed the move but emphasised that allocations for Sarawak and Sabah must be safeguarded during the transition.
According to NFDP Sarawak, funding is essential to sustain grassroots initiatives, provide support for coaches, and maintain training facilities that have been instrumental in nurturing young talent.
The programme has long been recognised as a platform for developing players while also fostering community engagement through sport.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Corporate Affairs, Information and UKAS) and NFDP Sarawak founder, Datuk Abdullah Saidol, reiterated the importance of preserving the programme’s role in shaping youth development.
“I hope the Federal Government through the relevant ministries and perhaps also the Sarawak Government through the state sports agency can continue to help maintain the youth development programme that we have long developed among the youth. This is because we can see parents always support their children’s weekend sports activities. This is a positive social development, not only in football but also in other sports,” he said when meeting NFDP Sarawak players on Thursday.
He added that NFDP Sarawak is prepared to work closely with FAM, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and state sports associations to ensure that the welfare of East Malaysian players remains central to national football development.
Earlier, Datuk Abdullah met with NFDP Sarawak players from the Under-12 (Women) and Under-14 and Under-16 (Men) categories before their departure to the Mokhtar Dahari Academy in Gambang, Pahang.
The teams will compete in the NFDP Malaysia 2025 National League, scheduled to take place from 13 to 21 November.
The NFDP has been a cornerstone of Malaysia’s grassroots football strategy since its inception, aiming to identify and train young players with potential to progress into professional and national-level football.
In Sarawak, the programme has also been credited with strengthening community ties, as parents and local supporters actively participate in weekend training and matches.
With the transition of NFDP and AMD to FAM, stakeholders in Sarawak hope that the momentum built over the years will not only be preserved but further enhanced, ensuring that East Malaysia continues to contribute significantly to the nation’s football future.
