PETALING JAYA, Sept 25 — The future of Malaysian football is the talk of town but for interim coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee, it is the near future he is focused on.
Ong, who like every other coach wishes to be the national head coach, is scouting for players for Malaysia’s next World/Asian Cup qualifier group match against Timor Leste on Oct 13.
Having watched the Malaysia Cup opening matches, Ong believes the Harimau Malaya squad may not see many changes.
“Safee Sali (Johor Darul Takzim striker) and Wan Zaharulnizam Zakaria (Kelantan winger) are two players who could be called up. Safee is in form although he is carrying a light injury,” he said.
Safee was dropped from the previous squad after former coach Dollah Salleh made changes following a 6-0 thrashing by Palestine in June.
The former Selangor star scored three goals in his last two matches, including a brace against South China in Hong Kong to put the Southern Tigers in the AFC Cup semifinals for the first time.
“There is no need for wholesale changes. Look at how the players bounced back against Saudi Arabia after the thrashing. They still have the fight,” said Ong.
“There could be other changes but it will probably be players who featured previously. I will look at this weekend’s (Malaysia Cup) matches and finalise the squad.”
Ong is expected to name the squad next week as training starts next Sunday, a day after matchday four of the Malaysia Cup. Malaysia also play Laos in a friendly on Oct 8.
Ong feels things are different compared to the last time he temporarily filled the role after Datuk K. Rajagobal’s contract ended in December.
Ong played the interim role until Dollah took charge on July 1.
“It is more serious and I am more hands on,” said Ong, who also coached Harimau Muda last year.
“There is no time to experiment or give exposure to young players. These are important matches. During my last stint, we had an Asian Cup qualifier (against Yemen) but we were virtually out by then.”
With the FA of Malaysia only expected to name a head coach in December, the qualifiers next month and in November could be a chance for Ong to stake a claim for the hot seat.
