SHAH ALAM, July 10 — Selangor FC remains committed to prioritising the development of local football talent, the Selangor State Legislative Assembly was told today.
State executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said that Selangor FC nonetheless still need to identify and recruit heritage players playing abroad to strengthen and improve the team’s performance in domestic and Asian-level football competitions.
This hybrid approach aligns with the modernisation of the football industry both domestically and internationally, and helps enhance Selangor FC’s competitiveness.
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State executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi speaks during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly session at the State Secretariat Building in Shah Alam on July 10, 2025. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
“Selangor FC believes that this hybrid approach can elevate the team’s competitiveness to a higher level while preserving the pride and identity of the club among the people of Selangor,” he said.
Najwan was responding to Sementa state assemblyman Noor Najhan Mohamad Salleh's query on whether the Selangor Football Association (FAS) would adopt the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) approach in recruiting national heritage players.
He added that recruiting quality heritage players from Europe would improve Selangor’s squad, but at the same time, various initiatives and coordination efforts continue at the grassroots level to bridge the quality gap between heritage and local players.
Selangor FC, FAS, and the state government have worked closely in implementing programmes aimed at strengthening and empowering the football development system in Selangor.
“Programmes for coach, referee, and amateur team development, as well as systematic state-level football leagues across various age groups organised by FAS, have established a solid foundation for local players to develop their talents.
“Selangor FC, in turn, emphasises talent scouting programmes and the development of elite and internationally recognised local coaches, to ensure that the best local players at each age level are identified and receive high-quality training,” Najwan said.
Selangor FC has also established numerous strategic partnerships with professional football clubs in Europe and Asia, enabling local players to undergo training and gain international-level exposure, thereby narrowing the gap between local and foreign players.
— Bernama
