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Selangor kicks off RM23m for football academy
Published:  Oct 30, 2015 6:25 PM
Updated: 11:30 AM

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali today announced the creation of a football academy for the state with funding of about RM23 million amid the floundering quality of the national football team.

In his budget speech to the state assembly this afternoon, Azmin said the Akademi Merah Kuning will train talents as young as 16.

"The golden age of Selangor football must be restored as the Selangor team is filled with potential," he said.

Azmin said the state is determined to spur excellence in its football through a more holistic and professional football development programme.

He said the funding will come from the state government and its government-linked companies.

As for the football team it self, Azmin said it will receive an allocation of about RM5 million.

Selangor is not the only state to have boosted its investment in football amid flak at the national level, particularly against the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

In Johor, the state's crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has personally taken charge of the state's football team, with increased funding.

Tunku Ismail, a vocal critic of FAM, had used the Johor Darul Ta'zim FC qualification into the AFC Cup final - a first for a Malaysian team - as proof that the national football team is sitting on its laurels and resisting reform.

Azmin's move to up investment in football is in contrast to his predecessor Khalid Ibrahim.

In 2013, Khalid got into a row with Selangor PAS Youth as he told the party wing to choose between football or funding for mosques.

He pointed out that the Selangor football team was already receiving around RM7 million annually under his leadership.

In the Selangor budget tabled today, Azmin also announced multi-million funding for the setting up of several museums.

This includes RM15 million for a stamp museum in Shah Alam and RM30 million for an art gallery and textile museum at the Royal Klang Club.

He added that this would include a ‘Heritage Walk’ to promote tourism in the state.

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