PETALING JAYA, March 19 — Harimau Malaysia chief coach, Datuk Ong Kim Swee is not satisfied with the weak midfielders in the national squad.
The weakness, he said, was exposed when the squad drew 0-0 with Selangor Football Association (FAS) League club, Emkay NPNG FC at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya here today.
“After several days of training, I saw many shortcomings especially in the midfield which is a bit loose... we controlled most of the match but of course it will be a completely different game when we play against Saudi Arabia,” he told reporters after the match.
Commenting in the result, Kim Swee said it was not that worrying for him as the focus was to find the feel of the game among players before facing the West Asian country in the final Group A match of the 2018 World Cup/2019 Asian Cup qualifying round at the opponent’s venue on March 24.
“To me the results of the match is not important as I want players to get 45 minutes of play to enable me assess their levels. Not only from the fitness aspect but also in terms of position and style against Saudi Arabia.
“So if we cannot play this 45-minute match or any friendly matches, most probably the situation will be worse when we meet Saudi Arabia,” Kim Swee said.
A total of 15 players reported for centralised training since March 14.
Three Kedah player who were in action in the FA Cup first leg quarter-finals against Sabah last night, namely goalkeeper Farhan Abu Bakar, Baddrol Bakhtiar and Amirul Hisyam Awang Kechik reported for duty today.
For the remaining eight players, seven from Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and one from Perak, Shahrul Mohd Saad, will report for duty tomorrow morning before the national squad departs for Saudi Arabia in the evening.
The JDT players are Izham Tarmizi Roslan, Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Mohd Fadhli Shas, Mohd Nazrin Nawi, Safiq Rahim, Mohd Amri Yahyah and S. Kunanlan. — Bernama
