PETALING JAYA, July 5 — National Under-22 coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee is unperturbed by Malaysian league teams’ refusal to release players for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games next month.
The called-up players are supposed to report for training today but Kim Swee is unsure of the turnout.
“It’s better to focus on how to prepare my team for the upcoming matches — the 2018 AFC Cup qualifiers in Bangkok (from July 19 to 23) and SEA Games.
“ I will only know tomorrow (today) how many are willing to turn up for national duty.
“I will only opt for Plan B if there are too many spots to fill. I don’t want to have negative thoughts the players won’t show up,” he said.
Kim Swee, however, said finding replacements may not be possible as registrations of players have been closed by Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
“We can’t find new faces. We are allowed to register up to 50 players and all of them are playing in the Malaysia League.
“So, there is nothing I can do. Let’s wait and see,” he said.
FAM deputy president Datuk Yusof Mahadi had advised the M-League teams not to sabotage the country’s mission as he was worried they will decide not to release the players.
The Under-22 squad's training camp starts today and are scheduled to have a friendly against Myanmar at Shah Alam Stadium on July 13.
In the China Tour last month, the Under-22 team lost 1-0 to China Under-22, 22, drew 2-2 with Guangzhou R&F reserves and beat Guangzhou Evergrande reserves 3-0.
