Petaling jaya: Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin’s outstanding contribution to the development of Malaysian football continues to gain recognition, as he has been named the Tokoh Kepimpinan Sukan at the Sportswriters Association of Malaysia (SAM)-100PLUS 2024 Awards.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, SAM deputy president Izahar Atan stated that Hamidin’s selection for the award is fitting, given his consistent, comprehensive, and high-impact contribution to national football development. Izahar noted that Hamidin has demonstrated expertise in football management and shown exceptional leadership that has inspired many. His clarity of vision, bold decision-making, and unwavering commitment to the growth of football were key factors behind his selection for this year’s award.
Hamidin, who was recently appointed Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) honorary president, has dedicated over three decades to strengthening Malaysia’s football ecosystem, making him one of the most influential figures in the country’s sporting history. His journey began in 1995 when he was appointed executive secretary of the Football Association of Selangor (FAS). His excellence in sports administration led to his appointment as FAS secretary-general from 1998 to 2013. During those 15 years, Selangor achieved tremendous success, winning 18 trophies, including five Malaysia Cup titles, solidifying the Red Giants’ reputation as a dominant force in Malaysian football.
Hamidin later brought that wealth of experience to the national stage, serving as FAM secretary-general for five years before being entrusted with a greater mandate as president in 2018. Under his leadership, various structural and developmental reforms were introduced. A crowning achievement was Malaysia’s qualification for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup on merit, ending a 43-year drought and marking a new era for the Harimau Malaya squad. Hamidin and FAM launched the naturalised and heritage player programme to strengthen the Harimau Malaya squad at the international level, a move that paid off when the team, comprising both naturalised and local players, qualified for the Asian Cup.
Beyond that, Hamidin has continued to play a major role in national sports development. He previously served as deputy president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia and made history as the first FAM president appointed as chef de mission for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The SAM-100PLUS 2024 Awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on July 14 at Sunway Resort Hotel, Petaling Jaya, and will be officiated by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.