KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Qatar Football Association (QFA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday, to enhance collaboration in football and strengthen ties between the two countries.
The collaboration covers six areas, namely, coaching education, referee development, women’s football, friendlies and camps for junior national teams, junior match structure and operations, and futsal development.
FAM in a statement on its official Facebook page last night said that the MoU was signed between FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and QFA president Sheikh Hamad Khalifa Ahmed Al Thani at the latter’s office in Al-Bidda Tower, Doha.
Also present at the ceremony were FAM secretary-general Noor Azman Rahman and QFA secretary-general Mansour al-Ansari.
“This year-long MoU will be automatically renewed every year for a period of no more than five years,” read the statement.
Hamidin, in a statement, said that FAM and QFA has agreed to work together in building a close relationship in addition to promoting the growth and success of football in the two countries.
“This is also to protect the values and traditions of this sport considering that football is not only for economic activity but also a social instrument in international relations,” he said.
He said as a start, the national Under-17 (U-17) squad had undergone a training camp at the Qatar Aspire Academy and played six friendly matches recently in preparation for the 2023 U-17 Asian Cup that will take place in Thailand next month.
“The Aspire Academy indeed has complete and cutting-edge training and medical facilities. Of course, this cooperation will benefit the development of our football,” he said. – Bernama, May 11, 2023
