PETALING JAYA, June 9 — Malaysia Under-22 team manager Datuk Yusoff Mahadi again pleaded with clubs and state teams to release players for national duties.

The team will be involved in the Under-23 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) championship qualifiers in Bangkok on July 19-23 and Kuala Lumpur SEA Games on August 19-30.

Yusoff admitted on April 12 that teams and clubs refused to release their players because of the tight schedules of the Super League and Malaysia Cup during the period.

“Hopefully the teams will release their players for national interest this time around,” said Yusoff, who is also the FA of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president.

“I understand the teams’ needs are important too but it’s our duty to ensure and help our country especially to win on our home turf.

“If they still refuse ... I see the situation as ‘sabotage’ to the country as this is not in the interest of the nation,” he said.

The battlefield in Bangkok is important for coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee’s chargers in their preparation ahead of the SEA Games.

In the Bangkok qualifiers, Malaysia are in Group H together with Thailand, Indonesia and Mongolia.

Asked about how’s the player’s progress, Yusoff said the players have shown great determination to represent the country.

“They played a friendly against Felda United (on Tuesday) and held the seniors to a 1-1 draw. So we can see they have the fighting spirit in them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kim Swee is worried with his chargers’ fitness upon returning from their China tour.

Kim Swee’s concern is more on his players won’t be able to maintain their fitness and  might not be given the chance to play by their clubs in the M-League.

“I admitted I’ve many experienced players but my main concern is they don’t get chance to play in the first 11 with their clubs upon returning,” he said yesterday at the KLIA before leaving for China.

“This will affect their fitness level if not be able to play, as we only have roughly three-week gap to each tournament.

“The players need to play continuously. If they got the chance to do so ... then it won’t be an issue to me.”

The team will return home and continue training at Wisma FAM on June 17 to 23 before breaking camp as the M-League resumes on July 1.