KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia must adopt Indonesia’s approach to developing their national under-17 football team to compete effectively on the international stage, stressed former national under-17 team manager Christopher Raj.
Christopher’s remarks come after Malaysia’s under-17 team failed to qualify for next year’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
A 2-2 draw against minnows Laos in Vientiane ended their campaign, despite finishing second in Group H under head coach Javier Jorda Ribera.
The United Arab Emirates topped the group with six points, securing a spot in the tournament.
Following the disappointing outcome, Christopher, who also chairs FAM’s media and communications committee, fulfilled his pledge to step down from his managerial role.
Speaking to Scoop, he highlighted the lack of competitive matches for Malaysia’s under-17 team as a key factor behind their struggles.
In contrast, Indonesia’s under-17 team, led by Nova Arianto, participated in several invitational tournaments against teams from Scotland, Qatar, India, Switzerland, Australia, and the Faroe Islands, which helped them qualify for the Asian Cup.
“For us to qualify for the under-17 World Cup or the Asian Cup, we need a five-year strategic plan,” said Christopher.
“Our boys need to play competitive matches—not against local teams like Selangor, JDT, Kelantan, or Terengganu, but against the likes of Japan, South Korea, or even in Europe for two to three months.”
Christopher also praised Indonesia’s participation in the La Liga summer camp in Europe, where their under-17 team played against clubs from Spain, France, Italy, and Sweden.
“These experiences are critical. The more games like these we play, the more we will improve over the next five years,” he added during Scoop’s podcast Sport Check.
At the same time, Christopher did not hold back in his criticism of Malaysia’s under-17 team, stating they are “not good enough” and need to play at least 85 competitive matches annually to match Asia’s top footballing nations.
“I’ll say it bluntly: our boys are good enough to be champions in Malaysia, excelling in the Piala Belia and President’s Cup. But outside Malaysia, they don’t measure up,” he said.
“A Japanese player aged 15 to 16 will have played at least 85 matches by the time they compete in the AFC qualifiers.
“More match experience increases contact time with the ball, improves technique, enhances tactical awareness, and boosts game intelligence. Right now, we’re far behind, and urgent changes are needed to bridge the gap.”
Previously, Scoop reported that FAM technical director Scott O’Donell said that FAM’s executive committee is considering introducing more leagues and tournaments for youth state teams.
Currently, Malaysia hosts the Youth Cup for under-18 players and the SuperMokh League for players aged 14 to 17. — December 2, 2024