Muhammad Raimi Shamsul, captain of the Selangor FC Under-23 squad, played a significant role in helping the Red Giants secure second place in the 2024/25 MFL Cup.

Aged 23, the Melaka-born player began his football journey at the age of 11 with Klebang Football Club in Melaka. Initially, his involvement with the club was just a hobby, but over time, it developed into a serious commitment. This dedication led to his selection for the Melaka KPM team in 2013, with whom he won his first championship.

Raimi is also a graduate of the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSM). At the age of 12, he was invited to attend a selection session for the National Football Development Programme (NFDP), which had just been introduced at the time. His talent and hard work earned him a place among the top 50 selected players, making him one of the first batch of graduates to progress through the NFDP, eventually leading to the establishment of the Mokhtar Dahari Academy (AMD).

"When I was in Form 1, NFDP divided the players into three groups. At first, we were placed at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI). Later, Group A was transferred to the Bukit Jalil Sports School, and midway through Form 3, we were all reunited at the Mokhtar Dahari Academy until graduation," he shared.

As a graduate of AMD, Raimi actively participated in domestic tournaments such as the Piala Belia and SuperMokh Cup, while also gaining valuable international exposure from the age of 13. During the interview, he recalled, "When I was in Form 2, my teammates included Luqman Hakim, Harith Haiqal, Zikri Khalili, Sikh Izhan, and others. We played 10 matches in Europe, we won seven, drew two, and lost one. Alhamdulillah, I was fortunate to play in all the matches. We also had the opportunity to compete in Germany, Spain, Paris, and other European countries."

He also recounted a particularly memorable experience, "There’s one experience I can’t forget. While playing in South Korea, I had a poor performance in one match and was immediately moved to Group B. It was hard to accept at the time, but I took it with an open heart and treated it as a lesson for myself," he added.

With experience playing both in Malaysia and abroad with the NFDP and AMD teams, and having qualified for the U-17 and U-19 AFC Asian Cups, Raimi was offered a professional contract with Selangor FC at the end of 2019. After discussing the opportunity with his family and receiving their encouragement, he accepted the offer, “As soon as I received the offer, I didn’t take long to decide. I chose to join Selangor. The management scheduled a date and time for the contract signing, and I went with the hope of making my parents and family proud,” he shared.

Raimi began his first year at Selangor FC with the Under-20 squad under Head Coach Saiful Nizam. However, after just one match, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and football activities were suspended nationwide. The following season, the President’s Cup resumed, where Raimi played a key role in helping the team reach the semi-finals of the 2021 edition.

In 2022, he was promoted to the Selangor FC feeder team, competing in the Malaysian Premier League, clocking 589 minutes before the league was abolished. Despite facing stiff competition, Raimi went on to play 848 minutes in the first year of the 2023 MFL Cup.

Thanks to his growing maturity and leadership on and off the pitch, Raimi was officially appointed Captain of the Under-23 squad for the 2024/25 MFL Cup. His appointment was backed by both teammates and the coaching staff. While he hadn’t expected the role, Raimi embraced the responsibility with a positive mindset, “At first, it was a bit tough because my teammates are all very talented. But I realised I need to prepare myself for the future starting now. Head Coach Abdifitaah Hassan helped me a lot in adjusting to the captaincy. I used to be shy and quiet, but this role has taught me to be more assertive and to speak up when it matters, especially on the pitch,” Raimi reflected on his personal growth.

A player known for his consistent performances, Raimi described the  Selangor FC Under-23 squad for the 2024/25 season  as a strong and united team, “All the players are open-minded and accept criticism professionally. Each of us understands our individual strengths, and there's a real sense of closeness and trust within this team. For me, the key to success is mentality, if we have a strong mindset, nothing can stand in our way,” he shared.

Thanks to his commitment and consistent displays, Raimi has been regularly called up by the coaching staff to train with the senior Red Giants squad. He has also featured in several high-profile friendly matches with the senior team.

Raimi remains determined to work hard and earn his place in the Super League squad, “I’m truly grateful for the chance to train and play in friendlies with the senior players, even that experience is great motivation for me. It pushes me to keep working hard until I earn a spot in the Super League,” he said.

The management team is confident in Raimi’s potential and wishes him continued success with the Selangor FC Under-23 squad in the upcoming season. Keep up the great work, Remy!

Demi Kebanggaan!