Interestingly enough FUFA beat FAM's own Under 15 National team 2-0 to clinch 3rd place in the tournament. The Slovakian Under 15 were eventual champions.Let me put things into a bit of a perspective. FUFA is the first ever privately sponsored football academy in the country and my heart felt congrats to the people behind this initiative.
In my years of being on the bola@mamak show I come across a lot of people with ideas and money on how to develop football in Malaysia especially for young Malaysians. Except for IMCC and now FUFA, others turned out to be empty talk or another run by the mill football academies.
I admire the movers and shakers behind this new academy because they have put their money where their mouth is and making dreams come true for young boys.
I got the below extraction word for word from their website. I don't mind them getting a bit of publicity from me as this is a good thing for the country.
"Frenz United Football Academy sits on 5.25 acres of private land in Janda Baik, Pahang. The Academy is dedicated to developing the best football players for the country. Towards this end, the Academy aspires to bring together a cohort of 50 young, aspiring and talented players between the ages of 12-13 from all over Malaysia to the professional football training Centre in Janda Baik.
These students will be offered a full scholarship, which covers the costs of accommodation and board at the Academy’s training centre, professional football training and coaching services, schooling at a nearby school, sporting attire and uniforms and transportation.
The scholarship is for a duration of 5 years and will see the students through from age 12-18.
The Frenz United Football Academy’s core values of Professionalism, Well Balanced Development, Unity, Loyalty and Passion to Excel are infused into every aspect of our training programme. Students selected to attend training here will be given the best football coaching to improve their skill and technical knowledge of the game in a fully residential environment.
At Frenz United Football Academy, equal emphasis will be placed on the student’s education, football training, health and fitness as well as social and moral development. The idea is to produce well balanced athletes in mind, body and soul.
Learning to live together, study together and play football together, our students will receive a solid grounding in their studies and continuously develop their football skills in a conducive and rewarding environment, with constant positive encouragement from their coaches, trainers and peers. The boys of Frenz United Football Academy will develop bonds and friendships that may last a lifetime."
Some of you would have asked the question as how can I get my son in there. I really don't have the answer to that...which leads me to whole series of other questions like:
1. Who is behind this initiative? Could it be that a foreign company is behind it? Why would it spent time, effort and money developing football in Malaysia while knowing that it will have to struggle with FAM's policies.
The gentleman in the blue at the back is key guy in FUFA. Dato' Noor Ihsan A Hamid is the President of Frenz United Football Academy. All the best to you Dato.
2. Why did they tie up with FAM? I don't think they have a choice. It could even be a former FAM guy behind this. I thought it is embarrassing for FAM to see the Under 15 National side being brushed aside by FUFA with a 2 goal win at the tournament.
3. Looking at the on ground team and photo of the boys in the FUFA, only our Malays boys are in the academy. I hope my research is wrong. Here is our PM going around the country shouting for 1 Malaysia. I honestly find it hard to believe that no Chinese, Indian or East Malaysian (Sabahans or Sarawakians) could not make it thru the selection. What about those kids with mixed parentage (expats marrying locals)?
4. How is it commercially viable? This is my theory.....all these kids will be represented by FUFA as their agent and be sold off to MSL and Premiership teams in the future. Money will be generated that way. The company behind this initiative could also write off the investment in FUFA as a CSR initiative and enjoy tax benefits.
5. What happens to the boys once they are 18 and leave FUFA......there is 5 year contractual tie up with FUFA after their sponsored stint? Relates back to my point in question 4 where the boys will be "sold" off to teams and clubs. I hope these boys get a stint in foreign clubs.
In summary, FUFA has my favor provided the selection process is based on merit. Otherwise, it will be another FAM type of saga.
Some of you would have asked the question as how can I get my son in there. I really don't have the answer to that...which leads me to whole series of other questions like:
1. Who is behind this initiative? Could it be that a foreign company is behind it? Why would it spent time, effort and money developing football in Malaysia while knowing that it will have to struggle with FAM's policies.
The gentleman in the blue at the back is key guy in FUFA. Dato' Noor Ihsan A Hamid is the President of Frenz United Football Academy. All the best to you Dato.
2. Why did they tie up with FAM? I don't think they have a choice. It could even be a former FAM guy behind this. I thought it is embarrassing for FAM to see the Under 15 National side being brushed aside by FUFA with a 2 goal win at the tournament.
3. Looking at the on ground team and photo of the boys in the FUFA, only our Malays boys are in the academy. I hope my research is wrong. Here is our PM going around the country shouting for 1 Malaysia. I honestly find it hard to believe that no Chinese, Indian or East Malaysian (Sabahans or Sarawakians) could not make it thru the selection. What about those kids with mixed parentage (expats marrying locals)?
4. How is it commercially viable? This is my theory.....all these kids will be represented by FUFA as their agent and be sold off to MSL and Premiership teams in the future. Money will be generated that way. The company behind this initiative could also write off the investment in FUFA as a CSR initiative and enjoy tax benefits.
5. What happens to the boys once they are 18 and leave FUFA......there is 5 year contractual tie up with FUFA after their sponsored stint? Relates back to my point in question 4 where the boys will be "sold" off to teams and clubs. I hope these boys get a stint in foreign clubs.
In summary, FUFA has my favor provided the selection process is based on merit. Otherwise, it will be another FAM type of saga.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCommenting on point no 3.
ReplyDeleteThere are Indian player(s) in full team setup. They only brought the best 20 to the tournament.
Hope this helps! Thanks.