FAM grants significant authority to former Malaysia national team coach

Ex-Malaysia national team coach Ong Kim Swee has been entrusted by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) with extensive powers to choose the coaching team and overhaul the national youth training framework.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has confirmed that full decision-making authority regarding the selection of coaches for the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) and Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD) will be granted to Technical Director Datuk Ong Kim Swee and his expert team.

FAM’s Acting President, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, stated that FAM has complete confidence in Ong Kim Swee’s ability and experience to comprehensively assess Malaysia’s youth training programs. He emphasized that this empowerment aims to ensure all decisions are made transparently, professionally, and with the long-term benefit of national youth football in mind.

“The entire process of selecting coaches will be handled by Kim Swee and his team. The goal is to address previous shortcomings and build a stronger foundation for NFDP and AMD,” said Yusoff.

According to the FAM leader, 12 coaches have had their contracts terminated so far, while several others are still under review. However, he declined to disclose specific names, stating that “this is the authority and responsibility of the Technical Director.”

“We need to place trust in Kim Swee and his team to select the most suitable candidates. The aim is to improve coaching quality and help the training programs achieve better results than before,” he added.

Previously, Malaysian media reported that 26 coaches from NFDP and AMD found themselves “directionless” after their contracts were ended, including 14 working at state levels and 12 affiliated with AMD.

Yusoff affirmed that all changes are intended to strengthen the coaching structure, create a more effective management system, and focus on developing a quality generation of young players for the future of Malaysian football.

“Who stays or leaves is their decision. The most important thing is how Malaysia can have a better, more suitable coaching team aligned with current development goals,” he emphasized.