Kuala lumpur: The Perak Football Association (PAFA) is set to secure the services of a new head coach to guide the Perak team through the 2026-2027 Liga A1 Semi-Pro season. PAFA, in a statement today, announced that the decision was made following a new directive set by the Amateur Football League (AFL), which mandates that every team must have a head coach possessing an AFC Pro Diploma Coaching License (Pro-A).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, PAFA will appoint a head coach who not only fulfills the licensing requirements but also possesses extensive experience in grassroots football development, modern coaching, and a proven track record at the state, national, and international levels. The selection of the new head coach will also take into account the state's football development agenda, which aligns with the aspirations of the Perak Sejahtera 2030 Plan, as well as the need to strengthen the team's future performance.
Last season, Perak was guided by former player Syamsul Saad, who successfully led the team to a fifth-place finish in the league, in addition to reaching the semifinals of the MFL Challenge Cup and the quarterfinals of the Malaysia Cup. PAFA stated that the appointment of the new head coach will not sideline the existing coaching staff; instead, they will be retained and paired together to strengthen the team's technical structure.
PAFA has also agreed to offer new contracts to last season's players who passed the performance evaluation process to remain with the team for the upcoming season. In addition, PAFA announced that the team will participate in the Liga A2 Amateur and the President's Cup this season, aiming to provide exposure to more talented young players emerging from grassroots development programs such as the Malaysia Games (SUKMA), Liga A1 Semi-Pro, and the Liga Perak Sejahtera 2030.
Through the implementation of a comprehensive football development programme spanning these three leagues, Perak has successfully produced approximately 70 players aged between 18 and 24, according to the statement. PAFA also expressed its appreciation to Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad for his continuous support towards all planning to ensure Perak remains competitive in the country's football stage.