Nidzam Jamil - "It's a good time for me to return to where I learnt football all those years ago."

Being well-prepared is crucial to Selangor FC's planning, and this need to be ready early has advised the changes recently made in the coaching staff.

Just days after our 2021 season ended, several coaching appointments and reassignments were made in preparation for the coming season, with one of them resulting in the addition of a name that is no stranger to the club. Former Selangor defender and Felda United head coach Nidzam Jamil was appointed to the role of first team assistant head coach along with Karsten Neitzel, with both of them tasked with helping newly-appointed head coach Michael Feichtenbeiner.

While his return to his boyhood club in an official capacity has been accepted well by the fans, he was asked about a cheeky response he made two years ago, when posed about the possibility of leading Selangor in the future.

Nidzam, who was the Felda boss at the time, poetically remarked that Selangor were like a "former lover", and he was not ready to take over at such a big club.

This recollection elicited a laughter from him, and he told us why his answer was positive, when asked to return as an assistant head coach this time around.

"It's an easy choice. When Selangor FC calls you to be a part of the coaching staff, it does not feel right to say no. You won't get another opportunity. In addition, I think it's a good time for me to return to where I learnt football all those years ago.

"I like the challenges that come with being at Selangor FC. Players have come and gone, the training ground is a different one now, while the home ground too has changed, but performing for the fans remains the same. Selangor FC fans are crazy about the team and you don't see this level of obsession at many other clubs," explained the former Malaysia international.

The 41-year old also remarked on the changes he has seen so far at Selangor FC.  

"It's nice to see that the club is managed by new and fresh faces now, who have come on board with not just new ideas, but also different thought processes.

"Most importantly, the training ground too has undergone a massive transformation. If we want to improve, we need to improve in certain areas and having the right facilities is half the job done," noted Nidzam.

Now that he is here, he wants to get on with his task of helping Feichtenbeiner field a competitive team in 2022. Nidzam shared the division of duty that he will be responsible for as an assistant head coach.

"I am here to help Michael and Karsten strengthen the implementation of the club's philosophy and style of play. But among the areas I will be concentrating on are team play and defending. Reducing the number of goals conceded is one of the things the coaching staff will look into. 

"You need to defend well in order to have a strong team, and this means doing it together as a team and not just for the defenders. Another task I was assigned is to focus on our younger boys and personalities," he explained.
 
Ending the interview, he voiced the importance for all attention now to be given to Feichtenbeiner, and for everyone at the club, including the fans who have earlier spoken in favour of Nidzam, to adhere to the German trainer's vision.

"The task we have now is not an easy project, for all of us as well as the fans. We understand that the brunt of the responsibility is on the shoulders of us at Selangor FC, but we want to go where we need to go together with our fans, on the bad days as well as the good ones," said Nidzam with confidence.

"If everyone of us are on the same page, the coaches, the players and the supporters, I believe that we can go far. I can see the direction but we must support each other. The fans must support the club, while Selangor FC must not let their supporters down”.

Demi Kebanggaan!