Ghana's thriving grassroots football system vs Malaysia's struggling professional leagues
'In Africa, football is more than a sport; it is a lifeline. It is a way to escape poverty and uplift entire communities.'

SHAH ALAM - Ghana’s football system thrives with 900 grassroots leagues managed by small teams, showcasing an impressive contrast to Malaysia’s professional leagues like the Malaysian Super League (MSL), which face limited opportunities and challenges in grassroots development.
Former FAM presidential candidate and founder of Soca Loca, Sayf Ismail stated that the app, dedicated to grassroots football development, was launched with a global vision starting with Malaysia as its focal point.
However, it encountered challenges in gaining local traction due to differences in player mentality and motivation.
“In Africa, football is more than a sport; it is a lifeline. It is a way to escape poverty and uplift entire communities.
"This urgency fosters unparalleled dedication and grit among African players, qualities often lacking in Malaysia, where better living conditions reduce the same level of dedication.
“Globally, many successful footballers have emerged from underprivileged backgrounds, as hardship often breeds resilience and determination.
“For Malaysia to progress, it must instill a culture of hard work and high performance across all levels, coupled with organised grassroots systems,” he said during Sinar Daily’s Sports Matters podcast.

The inspiration behind Soca Loca, he shared, was to create a platform that manages leagues, tracks statistics and gathers data to inform policy-driven football development.
While the app has thrived in Africa, where such systems are valued, its potential in Malaysia remains largely untapped.
Reflecting on Soca Loca’s journey, Sayf expressed pride in the progress made, with the app now serving around 30,000 active players who use it to organise and manage local tournaments.
“To illustrate the difference in football infrastructure, consider Ghana, a country with 10 regions each governed by a regional Football Association (FA) similar to Malaysia’s state FAs.
"Each region organises about 90 leagues annually amounting to roughly 900 leagues nationwide.
“What’s remarkable is that these leagues are run manually by just four to five people using basic tools like Excel. Despite limited resources, they ensure consistent match play and cultivate talent, which explains why Ghana regularly produces world-class players and competes at the World Cup level.
“In contrast, Malaysia struggles with limited leagues and insufficient game opportunities. For example, the Malaysian Super League offers only about 20 matches per team annually, with additional games in tournaments like the FA Cup or Malaysia Cup bringing the total to around 30 matches a year,” Sayf added.
He stated that with such limited opportunities at the professional level, the challenges at the grassroots level are even more pressing.
Sayf also shared insights from Africa, describing the “earth pitches”—red clay fields without grass—that host year-long tournaments.
Players often travel for hours to participate in three-day carnivals on these rugged grounds.
Recalling a tournament Soca Loca co-organised in Uganda, Sayf highlighted the participants’ resourcefulness and determination.
He described how a school hosting the event had classrooms nearly three times larger than those in Malaysia, accommodating around 80 students compared to Malaysia’s average of 40.
“The briefing was conducted at night, with the school lighting only one room due to limited power, prioritising it for the event.
"This level of dedication, from players to the community, stresses their unwavering commitment to football.
“It’s a stark contrast to Malaysia, where we often take our superior infrastructure for granted.
"The grit, passion and determination in such environments drive continuous talent development, proving that the spirit of football can thrive even with minimal resources,” he said.
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