READY TO ROAR AT HOME

Young Tigers hope Malaysia get to host AFC meet

NATIONAL Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee believes his charges will be even more fired up if FAM succeed in their bid to host the finals of the 2020 AFC Under-23 Championship.

According to Kim Swee, playing on home turf will not provide much of an advantage to the Young Tigers though the immense support from fans is seen as a great element in helping Malaysia to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olmpic Games.

“For me this is a very good, noteworthy effort by FAM in wanting to bid to host the finals of the Under-23 Championship.

“If successful, as hosts we cannot be too comfortable because there is no guarantee we will succeed, but at least with the strong support of the home fans, it will bring about a different impact to the players.

“It is obvious that such a move, which has received the support and blessings from FAM president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, proves that FAM have done their homework and the necessary preparations in facing the championship.

“Even though it is still two years away, we must make early preparations and the first step is to bid to host the championship,” he said yesterday.

The plans to bid for the 2020 AFC Under-23 Championship were announced by FAM secretary general, Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin earlier this week as part of the efforts to help Malaysia qualify for the Olympics.

The last time Malaysia qualified was more than 38 years ago for the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Hamidin also confirmed that FAM will send their strongest Under-23 squad to the Asian Games in August even though there was an earlier suggestion by Kim Swee to send a team of mostly Under-21 players instead as part of the preparations for the 2020 AFC Under-23 qualifiers.

Kim Swee, who guided the Under-23 team to the quarter-finals of the recent AFC Under-23 Championship, has no problem with FAM’s decision.

“We will be sending the Under-23 squad to the Asian Games. When the time comes, I will see and decide how in terms of player selection because the Malaysia League is currently ongoing,” he said.