KUALA LUMPUR: Professional football clubs should not expect the Mokthar Dahari Academy (AMD) to provide them with players who can go straight into their first teams.
This is the view of National Sports Council (NSC) talent division and women development director Safrusahar Yusoff, who oversees the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) as well as the AMD.
Safrusahar said it was up to clubs to provide AMD alumni with the second- or third-tier competitive exposure they need before being ready for Super League-level football.
Players that go through the AMD system generally spend up to six years at the academy, going through the under-12 to under-17 age groups before graduating.
"The goal of the NFDP and AMD is to provide the football market with a steady supply of fresh talent," said Safrusahar today.
"Our focus is on development, not high performance.
"We are producing players who have gone through the football system. We have given them a strong foundation and fundamentally they are solid.
"It is up to the FA of Malaysia (FAM) to give these players the finishing touches they need for the respective (age group) national teams and it is the same with the clubs.
"Many clubs expect the AMD to provide them with the finished product.
"The truth is, at 18, only a handful of these players are ready to go into the first team of a Super League club.
"It is not easy for them to compete against mature players who are already in their mid-20 in terms of physique and experience.
"Most of them need another one or two years of competitive exposure in tournaments such as the Youth Cup or President's Cup before they will be ready for top-tier football and it is up to the clubs to provide this."
Safrusahar said 46 players graduated from the AMD this year and most of them had been snapped up by clubs.
About 220 to 230 players train at the AMD at any time. Each age group can accommodate up to 50 players.
On a separate note, Safrusahar said the NSC were looking to strengthen the NFDP and AMD in terms of sports science and coaching quality.
"We want to implement more football-specific sports science into the system rather than general sports science. This is to further optimise our performances and reduce the risk of injuries.
"We are working with a number of institutions to achieve this.
"We are also looking to develop more quality coaches who can implement periodisation plans for players.
"Unlike individual sports, football leagues can last for three months or longer, so the coach has to plan carefully to ensure players are capable of performing at an optimal level throughout the season."
The AMD, in Gambang, Pahang, was launched in 2014 and upgraded in 2018.