READY FOR GREAT THINGS
Kim Swee’s boys can be giant killers like Vietnam
THE Malaysian team feel they have what it takes to be like Vietnam, who stunned everyone by storming into tomorrow’s AFC Under-23 final in China.
Vietnam have upstaged several big teams, including Iraq and Qatar for an AFC final showdown with Uzbekistan.
National Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee said his boys, who have done well to reach the AFC quarter-finals, should emulate the discipline and vigour of the Vietnamese squad.
Kim Swee feels that the Malaysians are capable of pulling off feats like Vietnam’s.
“We need to work harder and we will get good results,” he said.
“We know that Vietnam have quality players who are fast and have great techniques.
“Without a high level of discipline, I believe Vietnam wouldn’t have qualified for the final. Their players have shown great enthusiasm that should be followed.”
Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin believes that Kim Swee’s squad are capable of upsetting the top teams.
Khairy said his ministry is ready to provide sports science support to the national Under-23 team in their mission to qualify for the 2020 Olympics.
“Thank you Khairy, but most importantly is the early planning for the team. Even though the Olympics is only in 2020, we need to do the necessary preparations,” said Kim Swee.
“With the help of the sports ministry, I think it will lighten FAM’s burden because meticulous planning needs a lot of funding. Not only from a sports science perspective but there’s a lot more that we can do up until the qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics.”