Tag: nsfc football school

Negeri Sembilan FC Unveils Long-Term Vision with Launch of NSFC Football School

Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) has taken a significant step forward in strengthening its grassroots and elite development pathway with the official announcement of the Negeri Sembilan FC Football School (NSFC FS), a structured initiative targeting young players aged 7 to 12 across the state.

The programme, presented by NSFC Chief Executive Officer Faliq Firdaus to the Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Utama Menteri Besar, is designed to ensure that NSFC’s football philosophy and DNA are embedded from an early age, while providing accessible and well-regulated training opportunities for young talents.

A Statewide, Structured Football School Model

NSFC Football School will adopt a pay-to-play academy model, allowing the club to reach all districts in Negeri Sembilan — from Seremban to Jempol — in a sustainable and organised manner. The initial rollout will begin in Seremban, before expanding gradually to other regions.

All participating centres will be guided by licensed coaches holding FAM Grassroots, D, C and B licences, ensuring a consistent and professional coaching standard. Coaches with AFC B licences will play a central role, with one appointed as Head Coach of the Central Programme to oversee implementation and quality control across all locations.

Soft Landing Platform for Young Talent

In light of the closure of several NFDP centres nationwide, NSFC Football School is positioned as a “soft landing” platform for young players to continue their football development within a structured ecosystem.

Players enrolled in NSFC FS will undergo evaluations every six months. Those who meet the required performance and development criteria may be:

  • Progressed into NSFC Elite Development squads (U-10 and U-12), or
  • Considered for training scholarships to help retain promising talent regardless of financial background.

This approach ensures that talent identification and retention remain central to NSFC’s long-term planning.

Unified Philosophy and DNA Implementation

Starting this year, NSFC’s Football Philosophy and DNA will be implemented across all elite development squads, ensuring alignment in playing style, training methodology and values from grassroots to professional levels.

While NSFC will maintain its focus on elite talent development, the Negeri Sembilan FA (PBNS) will continue to play a complementary role by providing mass-participation platforms, particularly through competitions such as Liga Suparimau and Liga PBNS. This structure helps manage weekly and monthly costs borne by parents, while offering competitive exposure for young players.

Phased Growth with Long-Term Commitment

NSFC acknowledges that the initial implementation phase may present challenges, but the club remains committed to continuous improvement.

“On paper, everything may look ideal, but early execution can be scrappy. What matters is that we improve over time — this is the direction we want to move towards,” the club leadership emphasised.

Once the 7–12 age group framework is fully stabilised, NSFC plans to expand the programme to include players aged 13 to 17, further strengthening the development pipeline.

Looking Ahead

The announcement also hints at future initiatives involving players released from the Piala Presiden level who are not yet ready for Liga Super demands, with further details expected to be shared as part of NSFC’s 2026 development strategy.

Registration details and further announcements regarding NSFC Football School will be released soon through official NSFC platforms.

Hobin Jang Hobin.

NSFC Football School: Building a Sustainable Pathway from Grassroots to Elite Football

Negeri Sembilan FC (NSFC) continues to strengthen its long-term commitment to youth development with the upcoming establishment of the NSFC Football School, a key milestone in the club’s grassroots and elite pathway strategy.

The recently concluded season marked a meaningful chapter for NSFC’s youngest age groups, with the B-12 squad successfully completing a full year of structured training under the club’s development programme. This also represents the second year of operations for the B-10 and B-12 squads at the PBNS Training Centre in Rahang—an important foundation phase in shaping the future of Negeri Sembilan football.

Gradual, Sustainable Development

NSFC has adopted a measured and financially responsible approach to youth development.

  • Last year, training sessions were conducted once a week
  • This year, the frequency increased to twice a week
  • Next year, the plan is to move towards three sessions per week, in line with the club’s operational capacity

This gradual progression ensures that quality, player welfare, and coaching standards are maintained while the programme continues to grow sustainably.

Encouragingly, several players from the current development groups are expected to progress into AMD programmes and sports schools (SSN), reflecting the effectiveness of NSFC’s early-stage training framework.

NSFC Football School: Strengthening the Grassroots Pipeline

The NSFC Football School will initially be established in Seremban, before expanding to other districts. Its primary objective is to formalise the grassroots pathway, allowing young players to enter a structured system from an early age and progress organically into elite squads such as NSFC B-10 to B-12.

Parents who believe in NSFC’s football methodology will have the opportunity to enrol their children through a monthly subscription model, ensuring accessibility while maintaining professional standards.

This model creates a clear, visible pathway:
Grassroots Football School → Elite Youth Teams → Academy → Senior Team

Learning from Proven Global Models

Many successful clubs around the world operate using a similar dual-structure system:

  • Grassroots programmes to widen talent identification
  • Elite squads to focus on high-performance development

Clubs such as Ajax, Bayern Munich, and leading Asian teams have demonstrated that combining mass participation with elite refinement produces technically strong, mentally resilient players who understand club philosophy from a young age.

NSFC’s approach aligns with these best practices—embedding club DNA early, while ensuring only the most prepared players advance to elite levels.

Benefits of Having Both Grassroots and Elite Teams

Having both systems working together brings clear advantages:

  • Wider talent pool through grassroots participation
  • Early identification of high-potential players
  • Consistent playing philosophy across all age groups
  • Reduced adaptation gap when players move into elite squads
  • Stronger emotional connection between players, families, and the club

This structure also allows NSFC to remain competitive while staying rooted in community development.

Leadership and Future Vision

Under the leadership of Technical Director Efendi Abd Malek, NSFC Development is entering an exciting phase. The club is also set to place its Head of Coaching within the B-17 SSN Za’ba programme, supporting talent development while gradually elevating SSN Za’ba into an official NSFC Academy partner.

With sufficient resources, NSFC aims to expand this collaboration further, including penetration into B-14 levels, reinforcing a complete development ladder.

Keys to Making NSFC Football School a Success

To ensure long-term success, several strategic elements will be crucial:

  1. Standardised coaching curriculum aligned with NSFC’s football DNA
  2. Continuous coach education to maintain training quality
  3. Clear assessment benchmarks for progression from grassroots to elite
  4. Strong parent engagement and communication
  5. Integration with local schools and community programmes

Looking Ahead

NSFC fans acknowledges that challenges remain and extends its appreciation to all stakeholders for their patience and support throughout the year. With continuous improvements, clearer pathways, and strong leadership, the NSFC Football School is poised to become a cornerstone of Negeri Sembilan’s football ecosystem.

The future of NSFC Development starts at the grassroots—and the journey has only just begun.