Alimuddin: Full support for schools

THE Ministry of Education's (MOE) Under-14 and Under-17 football competitions begin this Saturday where 15 teams in each tournament with be battling it out for the next six months. But many uncertainties have surfaced from the tournaments that are in their second year. From statistics given at a press conference yesterday which was attended by MOE director general Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom, it is believed that monitoring was poor and that the players lacked basic skills and techniques. Last year, out of 660 players the technical staff identified 20 players from the Under-17 competition and 30 from the Under-14, from which only two players from each age group made it to the national squad. The figures are discouraging when one considers that close to RM2.1 million was spent by the MOE to organise the competitions, while 100 Plus contributed another RM 1 million. This year RM2.8 million will be spent to organise the competitions. "We have given football priority compared to other sports, and we are working very closely with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and we hope to be able to work out the details on the grassroots soon. "The MOE-Ministry of Sports-FAM joint working committee will meet to discuss the areas that need attention," said Alimuddin at the launch of the 100Plus-Ministry of Eduction Football League. In response to a question if sports development in schools was in a moribund state, Alimuddin said: "I don't agree that sports in schools is in such a state. "We at the ministry are giving full support in terms of infrastructure, finance and human resources, but of course at times we face problems when the physical education teacher is promoted or transferred. But that is a very small problem." Alimuddin went on to say that only the best players from this year's competition will represent the country in the Under-17 World Youth Cup the qualifying rounds of which start in January, 2010. "It is everyone's responsibility to see that football does well in schools. Even parents play important roles as schools alone cannot do the job," he said. Meanwhile, FAM general secretary Lt Jen (R) Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad confirmed that professional coaches will be hired to manage football activities in the respective football schools in the states. "Once our proposal has been endorsed by the Cabinet Committee for Sports, we will be hiring professionals to coach in the football academy in each state. "We need funds to do this and once this is implemented, students will receive good guidance and technical support," said Azzuddin.