Breaking the Glass Ceiling with Faris Luqman
First off, congratulations on winning the Best Social Media Award for the 2024 season. Social media is often an underrated yet powerful tool in building a club’s identity and fanbase. How did it feel to be recognized for your work in this space, and what does this award mean to you and the team? Thank you! We’re incredibly grateful for this recognition. It means a lot to our team, as we’ve poured so much effort into making social media a core part of the club’s identity and fan engagement. This award motivates us to keep pushing boundaries and exploring new ways to connect with our supporters. We truly appreciate the continued support from everyone!
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So, Faris, what led you to become part of the Selangor team? How did your journey with the club begin, and what was your starting point in the football industry? My journey with Selangor FC started in the most unexpected way—through a simple assignment. I attended one of their matches for a project, and little did I know, that day would mark the beginning of a new chapter. During the game, the Head Photographer casually asked when I’d be doing my internship. I replied, "Next year (2023)," and just like that, he offered me the chance to intern with the team. Fast forward to 2023, I officially joined as an intern. By May, I was offered a full-time role and took on the position of Media Officer for the Selangor FC Women’s team. At that time, their social media presence didn’t exist yet, so I was responsible for handling all external media communications—especially interviews with the players. The rest, as they say, is history. Football has always been a part of my life. I played the sport until I was 17, but an ankle injury put an end to my playing career. Still, I found that football had a different path for me—one that I never expected, but one I’m incredibly thankful for. I’ve always believed that social media plays a crucial role in promoting the women’s game. Even basic information like squad lists and player profiles isn’t always easily accessible. Why do you think clubs should prioritize social media, and how can it help grow the women’s game? A lot of people still don’t know who the women’s football players are—especially the fans. They might recognized a few key players, but not everyone. That’s why I focus on sharing all the little details I can find about our players—like their positions, backgrounds, and achievements—and turning that into engaging content, like player bios. Even if not many people see it at first, every post helps build awareness. It may start small, but it’s a step toward changing the narrative and getting more eyes on the game. It’s about creating that initial buzz, no matter how small it may seem. What about the players? Does Selangor FC provide them with social media education, such as personal branding and best practices? Is there a specific code of conduct they need to follow when posting online? Right now, we provide guidance mainly to players who are directly involved in media-related activities. However, we do have plans to conduct a full media session for the entire squad to help them navigate the digital space more effectively. As for conduct, players are required to get approval from Miss Suzana (Team Manager), Zetty (Head of Media), and myself before posting anything officially. We review the content and captions to ensure they align with the club’s values and branding. That said, if they’re posting on their personal accounts, we respect their freedom and generally don’t interfere. After winning the award and with the 2025 FASWSL on the horizon, is there anything you’re looking to improve compared to last season? Looking back, what did you do last year that you feel could be even better this time around? Definitely—I’m always looking to improve Selangor FC Women’s social media presence. For the upcoming 2025 season, one major focus is enhancing content quality. We want to raise the standard of our graphics, photos, and videos to make everything more visually compelling and professional. We’re also planning to incorporate more trend-based content and work closely with the players to create pieces that feel more authentic and personal. The goal is to deepen fan engagement and build a stronger emotional connection between the team and the audience. As you know, The Pitch Invaders is still a very new platform in the women’s football space. As a co-founder, I feel there’s still room for improvement in terms of quality and professionalism to reach the standard I envision. If you could give us three key tips to elevate our platform, what would they be? If you ask me, here are three tips that might help:
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Mix things up with fun, behind-the-scenes content. Every player has their own personality, and giving fans a glimpse into those unseen moments can build stronger connections.
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Make sure your visuals are sharp. High-quality graphics and standout photos can really catch people’s attention and elevate your brand.
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Stay on top of trends across platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and even Pinterest. Fresh, trend-savvy content keeps things exciting and ensures you’re always reaching new audiences.
One thing we are still learning is how to handle negativity on social media. How do you personally cope with it while maintaining dignity and professionalism? And how do you guide players in managing online criticism and negativity? Honestly, the SFC Women’s page doesn’t receive much criticism—especially not in the comments. But when negative remarks do appear, I usually just remove them. If a comment crosses the line or touches on something sensitive about the players, I take immediate action. When it comes to the players, I always remind them not to engage with negativity. I encourage them to focus on the positive feedback and support they receive instead. It’s all about staying focused, confident, and professional—on and off the pitch.
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To wrap up this interview, is there anything you’d like to say to your club, your team, or the supporters who have been with you from the very beginning?
I’d like to start by expressing my heartfelt thanks to the club for giving me the platform to express my creativity—not just in photography, but also in graphics, video, and writing. I’m truly grateful to the entire SFC Media Team for always supporting me—from helping with posts to guiding me in my role as Media Officer. A huge thank you to the team—the players are the heart and soul of all the content we put out. Without them, SFC Women’s social media wouldn’t be what it is today. And of course, thank you to our amazing supporters for always engaging with our content and standing by us. Your loyalty means the world to us, and we’ll keep working hard to make you proud.
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