PETALING JAYA, March 17 — Harimau Malaysia coach, Datuk Ong Kim Swee wants the national squad players to focus 100 per cent on the last match of the 2018 World Cup/2019 Asian Cup qualifying round against Saudi Arabia next Wednesday.

The 45-year-old coach from Melaka said all the strategies he had planned would be of no use if players easily lose concentration on the pitch.

“This match is not only to end the qualifying campaign but we will try to collect points to avoid the play off for the Asian Cup third qualifying round apart from starting 2016 on a positive note after suffering several major defeats last year,” he told reporters at a national squad training session at Wisma FAM, here.

In the qualifying campaign, Malaysia who are fourth in Group A with four points from seven matches failed to advance to the third qualifying round for the 2018 World Cup in Russia but could still qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Meanwhile, Kim Swee who was not happy with the Malaysia League and FA Cup schedules which caused him to call up players in stages for the national training session, conceded it would not be easy against the Middle East football giants.

“Our players are still in the process of recovery after playing so many matches, I believe with adequate rest and good diet, they could recover in time,” he said.

He said to build the team rhythm and familiarity among players, there would be a 45-minute friendly against FAS League club, MK Land on Saturday before leaving for Jeddah on Sunday.

Kim Swee said Selangor and JDT’s win in the AFC Cup matches this week could help build the confidence of the players in international action.

“The wins have indirectly boosted players’ confidence level and it is a positive sign that we can compete at the Asian level,” he said.

Upon returning home on March 25, the national squad will be leaving to Melaka to play an international friendly against Macau at the Hang Jebat Stadium on March 29.

Today, four Selangor players, Muhammad Shahrom Abdul Kalam, Mohd Hafiz Kamal, Muhammad Nazmi Faiz Mansor and Mohd Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham reported for training with Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor and Brendan Gan (Kelantan), Joseph Kalang Tie, Yong Kuong Yong and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha (Terengganu) and Matthew Davies (Pahang) who reported on Monday.

Three Kedah players, Baddrol Bakhtiar, Mohd Farhan Abu Bakar and Muhammad Amirul Hisyam Awang Kechik are expected to report for national duty on Saturday while eight JDT players and Shahrul Mohd Saad of Perak will report to Kim Swee on Sunday.

The JDT players involved are Izham Tarmizi Roslan, Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Mohd Fadhli Shas, Muhammad Fazly Mazlan, S. Chanturu, Safiq Rahim, Mohd Amri Yahyah and S. Kunanlan. — Bernama