An empty gym and broken down hydrotherapy room in a building completed just two years ago left Syed Saddiq in dismay, as reported by Malaysian news portal The Star.
The basic needs of the recruits are neglected.
Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman made a surprise visit to the Mokhtar Dahari Academy in Gambang, Pahang on Thursday (4/10) afternoon and was left disappointed by what he saw.
The Mokhtar Dahari Academy was launched in 2014 by prime minister at that time Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and was touted as a five-star academy. It was built under the National Football Development Programme at a cost of RM85mil and was supposed to help produce world-class football players. It received its first group of students in April this year, comprising 185 students from Form One to Four.
"This RM85mil project is a disappointment."
"Even the basic facilities are not adequate. The players complain that their rooms are like ovens. The food in their old school is better than what they are given and they even have to smuggle in their own food because they are hungry.
He stated that things as basic as "balls for practice, jerseys and boots are not enough". The facilities are even "leaking water everywhere", with "an empty gym as well as broken down hydrotherapy and performance analysis rooms".
Saddiq concluded in his Facebook post rant, "I take this seriously. I will take the necessary steps to handle this problem for the sake of the future of Malaysian football."
Lawatan mengejut ke Akademi Mokhtar Dahari di Gambang.Kecewa. Akademi yang sepatutnya menjadi pemacu pembangunan bola...
Posted by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman on Friday, October 5, 2018
Source: The Star