FAS hope new training complex will raise players and coaches’ spirits

Simple ceremony: Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah signing a plaque to celebrate the launching of the FAS Training Centre in Shah Alam yesterday. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

SHAH ALAM: The Football Association of Selangor’s (FAS) hope of recapturing their glory days continues to gain traction as they launched their new training and office complex.

The 400,000 square feet facility is located at the SUK Sports Complex in Section 15, Shah Alam.

The facility, named the FAS Training Centre, was officiated by Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah in a simple ceremony yesterday.

“FAS are a huge entity in the Malaysian football scene. Although they have a history of more than 83 years and have enjoyed countless successes in Malaysia, FAS were still operating out of an old office in Kelana Jaya. And the players were training at facilities not befitting the status of a Malaysian football giant,” said Tengku Amir.

“I hope this facility can further raise the spirit of the players, coaches and backroom staff into giving their best to the association.”

The new facility comes with training pitches, gymnasium, physiotherapy treatment area and office complex.

Meanwhile, Selangor coach B. Sathianathan thanked the management for being attentive to the coaches’ needs.

“I think we have one of the best training pitches in the country now and you can see our players are more comfortable playing with the ball at their feet. I think our passing game is second only to Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT),” said Sathianathan.

“Proper facilities like these will entice top players to come play for us in the future.

“It’s not always about the big salaries, they also want to be taken care of properly by the management.”