PETALING JAYA (1 Sept 2014) – The AFC Women’s Assistance Programme visited the FA of Malaysia (FAM) to brainstorm ways to raise the profile of women’s football in the nation.
The roundtable held from August 27 to 30 discussed the importance of establishing and strengthening the collaboration with important stakeholders such as the Malaysian Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Council, the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) and FAM affiliates to bring Malaysian women’s football to the next level.
Those present included FAM General Secretary Dato’ Hamidin Mohd Amin, Deputy Chairman of the FAM Women’s Committee Normala Md Yusoff, Assistant General Secretary of FAM (International) Lazarus Jansen, FAM Technical Director Fritz Schmidt, Ministry of Education and NFDP officials as well as Head of FAM Marketing and Administration Sayf Che Ismail.
Dato’ Hamidin warmly welcomed the AFC delegation comprising Julie Teo – AFC Head of Women’s Development, Jose Carpio Marcelino – AFC Technical Division’s Operations Manager and Dr Michele Cox – UEFA Consultant, at FAM House.
He urged the AFC Women’s Assistance Programme (WAP) to draft a women’s football strategic plan for the FAM, which could then be presented to the FAM Women’s Committee.
During the discussions, many ideas and suggestions emerged regarding how to attract girls to the current grassroots programmes, promoting girls’ football in schools, developing women’s coaches, developing women’s football governance and activities in the 16 affiliated states and the possibility of there being a domestic league in the near future.
The ten objectives of the AFC Women’s Football Strategic Plan (2013 – 2018) which provides the framework for the AFC MA’s women’s football strategic plan, were also outlined by the AFC. The ten objectives are enlarging the base (Grassroots and Youth), developing and retaining players, creating the best possible environment for coaches and referees, establish national leagues and clubs, optimise AFC competitions, sustain successful teams, project positive image, enhance commercial development, make a positive impact and improve governance.
The AFC delegates were also pleased to note that two women representatives had been elected to the FAM EXCO at the 50th FAM Congress in May 2014.
FAM’s Technical Director Schmidt was pleased with the outcome of the two-day discussions and looked forward to continued reviews, analysis and updates on the roadmap of women’s football in Malaysia.
