KUALA LUMPUR: Asian Football Confederation (AFC) president Shaikh Salman Ebrahim Al Khalifa has lauded the FA of Malaysia's improvements following his visit to Wisma FAM today.
Shaikh Salman, who met with FAM president Datuk Hamidin Amin, said he's impressed with the progress of Malaysian football with the focal points being the recent performances of the Malaysian national team and club sides Johor Darul Ta'zim and Kuala Lumpur City.
Addressing the FAM executive committee and staff, Shaikh Salman said: "Under the able leadership of Datuk Hamidin, FAM has been investing in capacity building and the results have been quite impressive, clearly manifesting the AFC's vision of developing the sport in its Member Associations.
"The Malaysian national team will compete in the 2023 Asia Cup after a long gap and this is welcome news for all football-loving Malaysians, who can also cheer the results of JDT after they reached the AFC Champions League Round of 16, and of course Kuala Lumpur City who reached the AFC Cup final in 2022.
"The FAM are one of our leading member associations and we appreciate our close engagement, which sees FAM availing of the many benefits provided by the AFC through the AFC's development funding and programmes."
It was only last week that Shaikh Salman and Fifa president Gianni Infantino confirmed the collaborative project of a new AFC stadium in a ground-breaking ceremony in Putrajaya.
Situated approximately 30km from the AFC headquarters in Bukit Jalil, the AFC stadium in Putrajaya will be constructed on a land site spanning 15.43 acres, fully equipped with a grandstand, spectators' boulevard and atrium, administrative offices, and underground car park.