Perak: The Perak Football Association (PAFA) has appointed Syamsul Saad as the new head coach of Perak FA for the upcoming 2025/2026 A1 Semi-Pro League season and the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, PAFA president Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin stated that the decision was based on Syamsul’s extensive experience in football development at the state level, as well as his background as both a player and a coach. Syamsul, also known as ‘Coach Choi’, is familiar with Perak football, having represented the state and previously contributed his expertise as a coach.

Datuk Mohd Azhar expressed hope that Syamsul’s return would inspire both young and senior players and help revive Perak’s football glory on the national stage. This appointment was confirmed in a statement posted on the official Perak FA Facebook page.

Syamsul previously served as Perak FA assistant head coach from 2012 to 2013, head coach of the President’s Cup and SUKMA squads from 2014 to 2016, and head coach of Perak in the Super League in 2017. He also coached Perlis FA in the 2018 Premier League, led Perak’s President’s Cup team from 2019 to 2020, held the role of PAFA technical director in 2021, and served as head coach of Perak FC II in 2022. Most recently, he was with Kelantan United FC in the 2023 Premier League.

Among his notable achievements are guiding Perak to win the 2012 Youth Cup, the 2014 President’s Cup, and securing a historic gold medal at SUKMA 2014 in Perlis. Earlier, PAFA had announced the appointment of Perak Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) director Datuk Ahmad Sabri Mohamed as team manager for the upcoming A1 Semi-Pro League season.