FOOTBALL - ANCHOR SPORT

Football to be 'anchor sport' at proposed training centre in London

PUTRAJAYA: Football will act as the "anchor sport" in one of the several proposals for the government's aim to set up a High Performance Training Centre (HPTC) in Brickendonbury, London.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who chairs the Cabinet committee on sports, said although the proposal was still in the planning stages, they have narrowed down several sports including football.
They have identified four basic areas which could benefit and be developed at the 48-acre centre.
But Najib reiterated the Prime Minister’s statement last week that the Government would wait for the decision of the British authorities before making a final decision on the setting up of the centre.
"We have looked at several proposals and there are many benefits for our teams in having the HPTC.
"Football and cycling are two sports, which can gain from a long stay at the HPTC.
"Here they will get to compete against Europeans and also there is wide range of competitions for the cyclists to take part.
"We also want to see our junior football teams to be exposed in UK, especially the Under-17 and the Under 20 boys," said Najib at a press conference here on Thursday.
The plan also includes getting the junior football teams to play in as many matches against the local club sides out there and also to take advantage of the numerous competitions found in the Europe region, which they lack back at home.
Football, one of the eight core sports under the national agenda, has come under fire for the national team's poor showing in international matches.
Besides football, the Cabinet committee felt sports like archery, squash, cycling, badminton and swimming would also benefit from the facilities (to be upgraded) at this centre, which include a football field, swimming pool, an open land for archery and other indoor sports.

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PLPT mula operasi April’

[ Oleh Lukman Salleh ]

Kemudahan diperbaiki dengan kos tidak melebihi 10 juta pound: Najib

PUSAT Latihan Berprestasi Tinggi (PLPT) di Brickendonbury, dekat London akan mula digunakan seawal April ini selepas kerja pemulihan dan meningkat taraf dengan kos tidak melebihi 10 juta pound (RM69 juta) siap dilaksanakan.

Bola sepak bakal menjadi penghuni pertama PLPT sekiranya cadangan latihan skuad bola sepak remaja kebangsaan dengan kelab Liga Perdana Inggeris, Arsenal menjadi kenyataan.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak, yang juga pengerusi jawatankuasa itu, berkata, sebuah asrama akan dibina di PLPT selain daripada menaikkan taraf padang bola sepak di pusat itu.

“Jawatankuasa ini bersetuju supaya kemudahan asrama dibina dan padang di pusat itu diperbaiki dengan kos tidak melebihi 10 juta pound (RM69 juta),” kata Najib selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat jawatankuasa itu di Putrajaya, semalam.

“Pusat ini boleh digunakan April ini dan hasil perbincangan antara Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (KBS) bersama sembilan persatuan sukan kebangsaan, PLPT ini akan digunakan sebagai tempat untuk latihan jangka panjang dan juga transit sebelum atlit mengambil bahagian dalam kejohanan di sana.

“Selain itu, FAM (Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia) memaklumkan Arsenal pada dasarnya bersetuju untuk membuka akademi bola sepaknya kepada pasukan kebangsaan untuk menjalani latihan dan mereka (skuad negara) boleh menggunakan Brickendonbury untuk penginapan,” katanya.

Bagaimanapun, butiran persetujuan antara FAM dan Arsenal masih samar dengan belum ada sebarang perjanjian atau persefahaman antara kedua-dua pihak.