By Nazli Ibrahim
SHAH ALAM, June 4 — Two siblings were granted the opportunity to be assessed by a football club in Croatia after they were sent there for a two weeks training starting today.
Luth Qayyim Khairul Najib, 15, and Qaseh Rania Khairul Najib, 12, have received sponsorship from the Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated) or MBI to participate in a programme with NK Osijek FC.
Their father, Khairul Najib Ibrahim hoped the opportunity would pave the way for his children to develop their talent at European clubs as well as inspire other teenage football players.
“If there is a contract offer, my family and I will consider moving there,” he said when met by Media Selangor recently.
Khairul, who is the personal coach for his two children, said Qaseh was previously offered to play at one of the schools in Baltimore, USA by a former English Premier League player.
However, he said they had to reject the offer due to Qaseh’s young age and worries over her safety there.
“The Washington-based football development head hoped Qaseh could go there in August this year, but I think it is still too early for her to go alone because she is only 12 years old,” he said.
The two siblings were selected after their outstanding performances in the FAM Suparimau League tournament. Currently, Qaseh is undergoing centralised training with the national women’s football squad.
The teenager had also won the Kuala Lumpur Women’s Football Championship 2021 when she represented the senior team and the LaLiga Youth Championship 2021 for the Under-14 category.
Qaseh also received the awards for Most Valuable Player in the LaLiga Youth Championship 2021 and the Futsal Academy 2020 for the Grassroots category.
