KUALA LUMPUR – As Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh seeks to reform the landscape of women’s football in Malaysia, there are pressing concerns that warrant her immediate attention.
Speaking with Scoop, an insider from the football fraternity said that inadequate resources, insufficient recognition, and gender bias are the key reasons that have been holding back the development of the sport.
Despite their immense talent and hard work, Malaysian female footballers find themselves grappling with these issues that are hindering their progress in the sport they love.
The source said that women footballers feel demotivated to play for the country due to the lower wages offered, compared to the men’s football team.
“Perhaps the football bodies believe that women football players are not as competitive or engaging as the men, which I totally disagree with, but that doesn’t mean that women footballers should be underpaid.
“Women players train with the same intensity as the men, and it demotivates them when they are not being fairly compensated. That’s perhaps why many of them end up working multiple jobs and playing for social league clubs as freelancers to support themselves,” the source said.
Meanwhile, another insider told Scoop that national team players are not provided with proper training facilities and equipment like the men’s team.
“The players are always under scrutiny from netizens who feel that they are not doing enough for Malaysia. But the reality is that the players do not have access to the same training facilities and equipment as the men. It’s not fair for the fans to criticise the women players.
“How do you expect them to train without proper equipment and training regimes to elevate their game? That is the reason why the national team cannot compete with other teams in major tournaments.”
At the same time, the insider said that women footballers require the same level of coverage and exposure as the men’s team.
“They never receive proper recognition as women’s football athletes.
“The governing bodies and football clubs should play their role consistently in showcasing the players’ abilities to the public instead of only using them for match-day posters,” the insider added.
“Some players struggle to earn a proper income. Increased coverage and exposure of players can help attract more sponsors in the future.”
The Malaysian women’s football team last participated in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEA), conceding nine goals in three group-stage matches. – August 24, 2023