KIM SWEE VOWS TO GET JOB DONE
Coach to honour contract with FAM despite training woes
REPORTS BY AJITPAL SINGH ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my the season. But it has not been easy for Kim Swee.
The team leave for Bangkok tomorrow for the AFC Under-23 Championship qualifiers, but until yesterday, the coach was still clueless on whether six regulars will be on board the flight for the tournament.
The six are Darul Ta’zim’s Safawi Rasid and Haziq Nadzli, Pahang ’s Matthew Davies and Nor Azam Azih, and Penang’s S. Kumaahran and Syamer Kutty Abba.
Earlier, a training camp on June 5 was cancelled as only six players reported to Kim Swee in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.
Kim Swee was forced to call up seven new players and he only had his full squad on the eve of the 2-0 win over Myanmar in Thursday’s friendly match.
FAM and Football Malaysia LLP (FMLLP) should take the blame for the debacle as they could have freed up the required dates by rescheduling the league and Malaysia Cup matches.
The national body later claimed that the clubs were reluctant to agree on the schedule revision.
They have remained silent over the entire affair, leaving Kim Swee to fight his own battles.
Kim Swee is expected to face a similar predicament for the Sea Games as the league will only take a break on Aug 10, four days before Malaysia’s opening match at Shah Alam Stadium.
Malaysia are drawn in Group A with Myanmar, Singapore, Laos and Brunei.
While Singapore and Myanmar have already started centralised training for the Sea Games, Malaysia are still in limbo.
It is now a worrying question whether Kim Swee’s team can progress beyond the group stage of the biennial games.
“I have a contract to honour and I have also given my word to FAM that I will handle the youth team. I am not a quitter,” Kim Swee told Timesport yesterday.
“I knew that there would be obstacles. This, however, is a new experience but I am a person who never runs from responsibilities.
“Once I have given my commitment to something, I will continue doing it regardless of the challenges until the mission is completed.
“I will make do with what I have in my squad.”
Kim Swee said he is happy with the commitment of his trainees in training. “These players are very important to me. They have been giving their 100 per cent.
“Even though it is difficult, I will not walk away. I will complete my missions and honour my promise to the concerned parties.”
Perak SEDC’s Syazwan Zaipol Bahari, who was temporarily released for a Premier League match on Friday, returned to camp yesterday.
Sarawak’s Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin and Tommy Mawat Bada were released on Friday for yesterday ’s Super League match against Darul Ta’zim.
Kim Swee said Nur Shamie and Tommy will report back today. “Currently, I have 23 players in camp, which is enough for the Under-23 qualifiers. I am hoping the six players (from Darul Ta’zim, Pahang and Penang) will report to me tomorrow. But I am not sure.”
Malaysia will open their Group H campaign in the qualifier against Indonesia on Wednesday, followed by hosts Thailand (Friday) and Mongolia (Sunday).