Getting to know the sports and national sports associations (NSAs) involved, is one of the initial challenges for Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin, Malaysia's chef-de-mission to the 2021 SEA Games.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president said he was ready to learn the ins and outs of the 40 sports and meet representatives of the NSAs which will compete in Hanoi, Vietnam from Nov 21 to Dec 2.

"I take note of this heavy trust, it is certainly important that as the contingent leader, I want to make sure the teams competing in Hanoi are at a high level in terms of their morale and preparations.

"This requires close cooperation from the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) and the National Sports Council (NSC) Secretariat to bring this contingent in November in the best condition. In terms of sports to be participated, the number of athletes and targets will be determined later," he told a press conference. at Wisma FAM here, today.

Hamidin was announced as the chef-de-mission to the Games by OCM president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria after the OCM Executive Board meeting yesterday, thus becoming the first football official to assume the responsibility.

Hamidin said that he also understood the extraordinary challenges and uncertainties faced in preparing the contingent according to the new norms and special standard operating procedures (SOPs) in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, he is confident that his experience in dealing with the National Security Council (MKN) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to revive football in the wake of the pandemic, will also help him in preparing the national contingent to Hanoi.

"We are not sure if COVID-19 will disappear in the next few years. I expect all athletes and officials will be vaccinated before leaving for Hanoi gradually... It can boost their confidence level, so a lot of problems can be solved," he said.

Meanwhile, Hamidin stressed that FAM would still field an Under-19 football squad and not the national team to the Games despite the perception of supporters rising to see Malaysia win the 'mother of all gold medals' after he was appointed as chef-de-mission.

"The main target for the U-19 squad remains, which is to give exposure at the SEA Games this time to win gold in the 2023 edition and qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. A total of 30 players are with the FAM-MSN Project squad (in the Premier League) , while 19 players play for other teams," he said.

The press conference ended with OCM general manager Norhashimi Hussain handing over Hamidin's letter of appointment as the chef-de-mission.

-- BERNAMA