PETALING JAYA: Little League Soccer general manager Shazwan Wong said the rise of Hamza Abdelkarim of Egypt should serve as a wake-up call for Malaysia.
The 18-year-old Hamza who will be representing his country at the World Cup this month, began his football journey at Little League Soccer, which ran an after-school programme at the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL).
At nine, he left to join Al- Ahly in Egypt, where he received the elite coaching that ultimately took him to FC Barcelona and the World Cup.
Shazwan said Malaysia too have talents aplenty but they do not have the proper pathways to top.
“My FC Kepong alone had four to five players better than Hamza at that age when he was eight. Teams like TSS Selangor had the same,” said Shazwan.
“What we are lacking is a pathway to elite training. In contrast, Hamza received the elite coaching that helped him fulfil his potential.”
Shazwan draws a pointed parallel with Egyptian star winger Mohamed Salah, who emerged not from Egyptian giants Al Ahly, but from the modest Al Mokawloon club in Cairo, where elite coaching made all the difference, and he went all the way to Europe and succeeded for clubs like FC Basel, Fiorentina, AS Roma and took on legendary status in Liverpool.
Shazwan said the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and state football bodies had neglected youth development.
“Do FAM realise how much they have missed out?” he asked.
“Some state FAs have shown no interest in the National League, even when grants were offered.
“Some even sub out their spots to private clubs. That tells you everything, youth development is simply not their priority.”
