Enhancing the Development of Malaysian Footballers Through Sports Science

​​Herbalife Joins Hands with Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine and ​Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, UiTM ​to Advance Development of Malaysian Football Coaches.

KUALA LUMPUR, August 15, 2023 – With the aim of bringing Malaysian football to greater heights through sports science, Herbalife, a premier health and wellness company and community, recently sponsored the MASM Football Science Workshop Series: Fitness Assessment and Evaluation as part of our CSR initiative. 

​The event was successfully organised by the Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM) and the Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation (FSR) of UiTM as an ongoing effort for the betterment of football development in the country.   

This initiative forms part of a broader endeavour to elevate the local sports scene by propelling football science to foster the development of Malaysian talent. Taking place at the UiTM Sports Complex Shah Alam, the workshop was attended by coaches and trainers from across Malaysia. Participants were provided with a comprehensive toolbox of assessment applied knowledge, techniques and strategies to enhance the performance levels of their players. 

​MASM Vice President Associate Professor Dr Mahenderan Appukutty commented, “Football, being a highly demanding sport, requires athletes to possess exceptional physical abilities. To reach peak performance levels, it is essential to understand how to assess and evaluate the fitness of our players accurately. This workshop is aimed at equipping all participants with the necessary knowledge and tools to optimise the performance of our teams through scientific means.”  

​Expert speakers contributed to the impactful workshop, which featured a virtual session with Adam Waterson, Member of Herbalife’s Fitness Advisory Board and the Head of Strength and Conditioning for LA Galaxy, a US professional soccer team. This included sharing his wealth of career experience with LA Galaxy, strength training philosophy and programmes, performance metrics and analytics, as well as nutritional strategies for pre, during and post-game fuelling and recovery for players.  

​Amidst the digital era, Adam also shed light on the importance of fostering human connections and training players with a personal touch, sharing, “I think it comes down to being a coach who shows empathy and understanding for the players, as well as the methods that would bring the best out of each individual player. This is why, in LA Galaxy, players get individual programmes, ranging from nutrition and strength programmes to power and conditioning programmes in the field. Every player is unique and it is important to look after them individually.”   

​Adam further emphasised the importance of nutrition to hydrate and fuel players throughout training sessions, such as by providing Herbalife24 CR7 Drive for sufficient carbohydrates, electrolytes and fluids. He also highlighted that is it vital to ensure players obtain adequate amounts of nutrients to support them in their back-to-back matches and rigorous training sessions.   

​Associate Professor Dr Raja Mohammed Firhad Raja Azidin, the Dean of Faculty of Sports Science and Recreation, UiTM Shah Alam and also the Head of Fitness of Selangor Football Association shared, “The support offered by Herbalife has enabled us to create a platform where experts, practitioners, and researchers from diverse backgrounds could come together to share insights and exchange ideas, foster advancements in the science of football and promote the overall well-being of our home-grown athletes. The knowledge shared here will undoubtedly have a profound impact on the way we approach training, injury prevention, and overall player development.”  

​Football Association of Malaysia Head of High Performance and Soccer Coach (FAM) Reuben Jude Balraj emphasized the significant role of industry professionals in sharing their insights. He added, “It is crucial for people from the industry to share our insights as it helps players and coaches prepare for real-world situations and to practice acquired knowledge in the field rather than solely mastering the theory, enabling them to apply their skills and expertise on the field effectively”. The coach expressed deep appreciation for FSR UiTM's consistent support in advanced sports science application, noting that their participation in the workshop is a way of giving back to society and fostering a collaborative spirit within the sporting community.  

​The MASM Football Science Workshop stands as a pivotal component of Herbalife's extensive collaboration with MASM and FSR UiTM, forming part of their overarching commitment to nurturing local talent through sports science. This public-private smart partnership extends beyond the workshop to a range of initiatives, including Herbalife's recent sponsorship of 12 student cyclists from UiTM, enabling their participation in the national cycling tour, Le Tour de IPT 2023. Through their continued strong partnership, Herbalife and UiTM are dedicated to propelling Malaysian athletes to new heights.​

About Herbalife 

Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) is a premier health and wellness company and community that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers science-backed products to consumers in more than 90 markets through entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle in order to live their best life. 

About Malaysia Association of Sports Medicine (MASM)  

The Malaysian Association of Sports Medicine (MASM) is a prominent organization dedicated to the field of sports medicine in Malaysia. It comprises healthcare professionals, including sports physicians, nutritionists/dietitians, physiotherapists, and sports scientists, who specialize in providing comprehensive medical care and support for athletes and sports enthusiasts. MASM plays a crucial role in promoting sports medicine research, education, and professional development in the country. With a focus on enhancing athletic performance, preventing injuries, and facilitating optimal recovery, MASM aims to contribute to the overall well-being and success of athletes in Malaysia. 

About UiTM

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) had humble beginnings in 1956 as a training institute and became a full-fledged university on 26 August 1999. It is the largest comprehensive university in Malaysia and has expanded its global visibility through various collaborations with a number of universities worldwide. It continues to provide access to higher education, playing its role in nation-building by nurturing students, shaping mindsets and transforming lives. 

Providing education within reach, UiTM has 35 campuses across Malaysia. Through its 26 faculties, UiTM offers over 500 academic programmes at Foundation, Pre-Diploma, Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD levels, as well as Professional Programmes. Coupled with many activities and mobility opportunities, students are nurtured and shaped to become inspiring professionals. With almost 800,000 alumni in multiple industries local and worldwide, UiTM continues to prove itself as a premier higher education institution of choice and is well poised to enhance further its reputation as a centre of excellence to global frontiers. 

The varsity’s exemplary research and innovation are driven by its Research Management Centre (RMC) through seven Communities of Research (CoRe) comprising Humanities, Design & Creativity, Health & Wellbeing, Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences, Green Technology & Sustainable Development, Frontier Materials & Industry Application, Advanced Computing & Communication, and Management Science.

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