1st FIFA Regional Fitness Course in KL
The 1st FIFA Regional Fitness Course began in Petaling Jaya yesterday (17 Sept).
The inaugural course is designed to up lift the standard of fitness training programs of Member Associations of ASEAN and East Asia.
20 participants and three observers are attending this course. The instructors are Jean Marie Conz (Switzerland), Chan Hiu Ming (Hong Kong), Frank Nuttall (Scotland), Pradip Dutta (India), Gholamresa Jahani (Iran), Zakaria Labsy (France) and Claire Tourny (France).
In his opening address, Footbal Association of Malaysia (FAM) Vice President, Dato’ Sri Subahan Kamal said that this course is important because fitness is an important component in a team’s quest for success.
“It has been recognized as the First need in any team’s preparation before any tournament.
In Asia, there is a growing awareness that fitness is essential for a team and many teams have already hired fitness trainers working on the components of endurance, strength, speed, flexibility and agility with their respective teams,” said Dato Sri Subahan who is also the Team Manager of the Malaysian Senior National Team.
He added that, football has gained momentum in terms of pace and speed and in order to achieve this, the training methods need to have higher intensity and the players need to have higher levels of adaptation.
“When two teams are competing at the highest level are at par in technique and tactics the fitness levels have always made the difference.
“To implement this we need to have fitness trainers. FIFA has given thought to this, thus this first fitness course. The program itself identifies the physical requirements at the highest level, quantifying and managing training loads and demonstrating through small sided games. “
Dato’ Sri Subahan noted that only 3 Asian countries have consistently qualified for the World Cup competition, namely Australia, Korea and Japan.
“We need to have more teams from Asia qualifying for the World Cup. For the next four days you will be in the good hands of qualified FIFA Instructors to deliver this fitness content and hope everyone can benefit equally,” said Dato’ Sri Subahan.
Present at the Opening Ceremony were General Secretary of FA Malaysia, Dato’ Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin and Deputy General Secretary of Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Windsor John Paul.
Participants:
Murdoch Alexander, Mackenzia Stead, Sean Alexander Doualas (Australia); Haji Abdul Malik (Brunei); Prak Savannara (Cambodia), Xue Shen (China); Hsieh Ting Kai (Chinese Taipei); Betty Wong Yeuk Ling (Hong Kong); Yaya Sunarya, Muchtar Hendra Hasibuan (Indonesia); Makinobu Yasumahsu (Japan); Chang HwaJoo, Lee Jae Hong (Korea Rep); Hai Kam Fai (Macau); C. Nadarajan (Malaysia); Sann Win (Myanmar); Salvador Alberto Salvacion (Philippines); Jeremy Ng Wei Chuen, Nor Azli bin Mohd (Singapore); Hoang Anh Tuan, Lee Huynh Duc (Vietnam).
Observers:
Tan Cheng Hoe, Kok Keng Lin, Somasundram (Malaysia).