THE Football Association of Penang (FAP) is now officially known as Penang Football Club (Penang FC) after the association has completed the privatisation process.
State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee said the new name would be used in the CIMB Super League next season.
He said the transition from a football association (FA) to a football club (FC) was directed by the FA of Malaysia in accordance to a mandatory ruling by FIFA, the international governing football body.
“The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) had approved the change of the new name (Penang FC) in September this year,” Soon (PH-Bagan Jermal) said when replying to a supplementary question by Ong Ah Teong (PH-Batu Lancang) during the State Legislative Assembly in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
To a supplementary question from A. Kumaresan (PH-Batu Uban) on whether there is any plan by the state government to give an additional allocation to FAP for its Premier League success this season, Soon said the Penang government would discuss it at the state executive council meeting once FAP has applied for it.
“For this year only, the state government had approved RM8 million allocation to the FAP.
“FAP also had received a sponsorship from private sector totalling RM500,000.
“On an average, the monthly management cost for FAP is RM719,500,” he added.
Kumaresan, had in his oral question also, wanted to know about short and long-term strategies for FAP.
Soon explained that one of the short-term strategies for FAP is to prepare the players mentally and physically as the team gets promoted to play in the Super League next year.
“The team will also intensify training session and play friendly matches to try out different team tactics so that the players can adapt well to the Super League and thus increase their chances of winning it.
“For the long-term strategy, FAP will be working closely with the local football academy in the state to find ‘rare gems’ (quality talents) to represent the squad in the future.
“We have also planned to strengthen the players’ line-up for the league team, Piala Presiden (President’s Cup) and Piala Belia (Youth Cup).
“After all, we want to bring back the glory days of Penang football team and we believe this is possible,” he added.
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Alvie Cheng