KBS continues to monitor NFDP amid financial concerns affecting grassroots football development in Malaysia.
THE Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has assured that it will continue to monitor the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) amid concerns that financial constraints are affecting grassroots football development in the country.
Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the ministry’s main focus at present is to ensure that grassroots sports development, particularly through the NFDP, continues according to its original objectives.
“We will always engage with MSN (the National Sports Council), and, of course, with the financial allocations that have been provided previously, we will ensure that the main targets and objectives are achieved,” he said after the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS Awards 2025 ceremony.
He said this to reporters in response to NFDP technical director Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s statement that the programme is currently facing serious financial constraints, making it difficult to send teams from various age groups for international exposure.
According to him, the situation has resulted in young national players, particularly those in the under-13 to under-17 categories, missing out on a crucial platform to gain competitive international experience.
Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari said the ministry remains open to discussions to ensure that the NFDP continues in line with the original goals of its establishment.
“That is the most important thing. However, on the details and related matters, we will certainly continue to provide space for discussion so that we can achieve the original goals and objectives,” he said.
He also said that no decision has been made so far on any additional allocations for the programme.
“Insya-Allah, discussions are ongoing, but no decision has been made so far. We are still sticking to the previous allocation,” he said.
