Football: Beckham shines through the glitz and glamour

PETALING JAYA: It’s not every day that an international football superstar pops in for a visit to Malaysia.

Some prefer to stay under the radar while some enjoy the big fanfare but for international football icon David Beckham, his character shone through all the glitz and glamour.

Beckham arrived in Malaysia to attend the “World of Predator Exhibition” for sportswear brand Adidas at The Exchange TRX yesterday, but the former England captain also made time to get familiar with the local grassroots scene.

Before heading to the big event at the new mall, the 48-year-old Beckham made a stop at the Royal Selangor Club in Bukit Kiara for the launch of the Adidas Malaysia Girls Football Programme (AMGFP).

The programme is a partnership between Adidas and the Professional Footballers Association of Malaysia (PFAM) aimed at creating equal opportunities for local youth female football talent to reach great heights in a male-dominated sport.

PFAM’s Safee Sali was also present and together with women’s national team captain Steffi Sarge Kaur.

Starting this March, the AMGFP would be held quarterly, and the girls will gain professional guidance from experienced coaches and top local female players such as Steffi.

Tailored for girls between the ages of nine and 14 years old, they will also have access to Adidas training gear and equipment to ensure they are ready for the game ahead.

Country manager for Adidas Malaysia Sharmin Photographer said the programme would cultivate a platform where young girls who are future football players can thrive and develop their skills, while being part of a community that celebrates their love for football.

PFAM chief executive officer Izham Ismail said: “PFAM have always aspired to cultivate a conducive environment for existing and budding women footballers.

With the sponsor’s support, we will succeed in shaping even more resilient and skilled future footballers ready to score on and off the pitch.”