KUALA LUMPUR – The issue of substandard football pitches in Malaysia should serve as a wake-up call to all pitch owners, according to Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi.
Yusoff warned that Malaysian football will only progress if drastic measures are taken to improve the condition of football pitches across the country.
Addressing the media following the national body’s executive committee meeting today, Yusoff urged the various parties involved – including stadium boards, state football associations (FAs), city councils, and clubs – to consider accepting the grants offered by the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) to improve their pitches.
“As we all know, the Youth and Sports Ministry has introduced an initiative offering grants to teams to improve and upgrade their football pitches.
“Let’s face it, many football pitches in the country are substandard.
“The problem is, not every pitch is owned by the football clubs themselves. Some are owned by the state, state FAs, or even city councils.
“Various stakeholders should sit together and find a solution. They should take up the grant offered by the Youth and Sports Ministry and improve the condition of their pitches.
“We shouldn’t be dealing with issues of matches being postponed in the future because of poor pitch conditions.”
His comment comes after the postponed Super League match on Saturday between Perak and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) due to poor weather and an unplayable pitch at Perak Stadium.
Yusoff also stressed that football will only improve with proper infrastructure and that having good football pitches is one of the most crucial factors.
“Ultimately, we need good football pitches to produce good players, as quality pitches are part of quality infrastructure.
“This pitch problem, which is not new, should serve as a wake-up call to all the responsible parties,” added Yusoff. — October 7, 2024