Shah alam: Selangor Football Club (Selangor FC) remains committed to prioritising the development of local football talent, the Selangor State Assembly was told today. State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman (Exco) Mohd Najwan Halimi highlighted that while the club is keen on nurturing homegrown talent, it also recognises the need to recruit heritage players based abroad to bolster the team’s performance in both domestic and Asian-level competitions.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Najwan noted that this hybrid approach is in line with the modernisation of the football industry, both at home and internationally. This strategy is designed to enhance Selangor FC’s overall competitiveness. “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 articulated.

Mohd Najwan was responding to an inquiry from Noor Najhan Mohamad Salleh (PN-Sementa) regarding whether the Selangor Football Association (FAS) would follow the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) in recruiting national heritage players. He mentioned that the inclusion of quality heritage players from Europe would strengthen Selangor’s squad, while initiatives at the grassroots level aim to bridge the quality gap between heritage and local players.

He further explained that Selangor FC, FAS, and the state government collaboratively implement programs to bolster 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,” he said.

Additionally, Mohd Najwan emphasized that Selangor FC places considerable importance on talent scouting and the development of elite local coaches. These efforts ensure that the best local players at each age level are identified and receive high-quality training. Selangor FC has also forged strategic partnerships with professional football clubs in Europe and Asia, providing local players with opportunities for training and international exposure to narrow the gap between local and foreign players.