PASIR MAS: The issue of work permit for players wishing to ply their trade in English Premier League (EPL) will spur Malaysian players to upgrade performance to boost the nation’s ranking worldwide.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said it is aware that it will not be easy for players to
Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek
play abroad, especially in EPL, if national team ranking is used as yardstick.
“Work permits to play in EPL are only issued to players from teams ranked 70 upwards by International Football Federation (FIFA).
“Unfortunately we are ranked around 140 and it will take a long time to change this and improve players chances despite the training sessions offered,” he said after opening a gathering of Kelantanese Siamese youth and community leaders at Wat Uttamaram, Kampung Teresek, Repek here yesterday.
Shabery was commenting a statement by Queens Park Rangers (QPR) manager Neil Warnock that work permit problems would prevent Malaysian players from seeing action in EPL.
Cardiff City’s offer of testing and training to striker Mohd Safee Mohd Sali from Sept 12 to 27 is the best platform for players to prove their worth.
“If our players have potential, there may be efforts to exempt them of work permits and if this happens it is not impossible for Malaysian players to feature there.”
The minister said football is an industry and Asia is seen as a growing market for the world’s leading clubs.
“If you have Asian players playing for clubs in EPL, it will led to business boom due to the big following as it is also a marketing strategy.”
Meanwhile, Shabery regretted that the Kelantan government did not provide funds for the development of sports in the state.
“It is ignorant about sports unlike Kedah and Selangor which provide annual grants despite being ruled by the opposition,” he said. — Bernama