KUCHING: Kuching Division Football Association (KDFA) President Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman has urged young footballers to aim for greatness and dream of representing Malaysia on the international stage.
Addressing players, coaches, and academies at the event, Fazzrudin emphasised the importance of mindset in achieving success.
“Today marks the beginning of a journey where our young athletes should not only think about representing their academies, districts, Sarawak, or Kuching City FC.
“They should aim higher, setting their sights on playing internationally as professional footballers one day,” he said at the closing ceremony of the Petronas Youth Football Closed Tournament 2024 at the Sarawak State Stadium here yesterday (Nov 16).
He stressed that developing the right mindset is crucial, alongside building strategies to achieve these dreams.
“Once they have that mindset and ambition, we must then devise strategies to reach those goals.
“The most important element in that strategy is discipline,” he added.
He pointed out that discipline goes beyond just training on the field.
“It’s about how they live their lives—when they wake up, what they eat, when they sleep, when they train, and how they train.
“Discipline in all aspects of life is essential, and coaches have a responsibility to instill this mindset in their players,” he said.
He also acknowledged the critical role of family support, especially from parents.
“Watching the video earlier today, I was deeply touched by a mother’s encouragement for her child.
“This kind of support is exactly what we need to nurture future champions. With the backing of parents, I am confident we will develop talents who not only compete internationally but also make their mark on the global stage. InshaAllah,” he said.