Team told not to let down fans

THE pressure is getting more intense for the national under-22 squad ahead of the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games.

Team manager Datuk Yusoff Mahadi reminded coach Ong Kim Swee and his players the importance of regaining the Sea Games title in August when he visited the team in Kelana Jaya on Tuesday.

Yusoff urged Kim Swee’s boys not to disappoint the fans in the biennial games.

He indicated that the Sea Games is the priority instead of the regional’s AFC Under-23 qualifiers on July 19-23.

“As hosts, we should focus first on reaching the Sea Games final and then think about winning the gold medal,” said Yusoff on Tuesday.

“It will be very unfortunate if the team are not in action until the final day of the football competition. Fans will be very disappointed if we do not achieve it.”

The national youth team, however, may face difficulties in achieving the target as most of the members do not get regular football with their respective clubs.

Kim Swee will have to work overtime to get his team prepared but things do not look promising.

Several clubs have shot down the FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) proposal to gather the youth players full-time for the Sea Games due to M-League commitments.

Four players will be dropped before the team head to Xiangtan for a friendly with China's under-22 team on June 8, followed by matches against the reserve sides of Guangzhou R&F (June 13) and Guangzhou Evangrande (June 15).

They will next face a Super League side in Melaka on June 22 and break camp the following day.

The team will gather again next month for the AFC Under-23 Qualifiers in Bangkok, where Malaysia are in Group H with Thailand, Indonesia and Mongolia.

“It is not that we will take the AFC qualifiers lightly... we will still try our best. It is just that the Sea Games is held here and we need to give ample focus to achieving our target.

“Kim Swee will still get the support to prepare a solid squad for the AFC qualifiers as the tournament will give us a chance to gauge the strengths of Thailand and Indonesia ahead of the Sea Games,” Yusoff added. Ajitpal Singh