Mohd Asyraaf to coach Universiti Malaysia football team
KOTA KINABALU: After his stint as national SEA Games women’s football coach, Mohd Asyraaf Fong Abdullah is now tasked with a new role to lead the Universiti Malaysia men’s football squad at the Asian University Games in Taebek, Korea.
The Sabah-born tactician from Tawau will be assisted by Yazli Mohd from Kelantan and former national custodian, Rashid Hassan as goalkeeper coach.
Asyraaf said the team has begun training at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Sports Complex in Bangi, Selangor since September 9. They are preparing to face the Asian University Games challenge on September 20-28.
“The weight on the shoulders is considered very heavy because the team has had only a very short time to train. The environment and playing conditions are also very different from what we are used to because obviously it is much cooler there.
“At the moment the quality and fitness of the players are still not in check but we are working hard to improve that. It will be a huge challenge for us in this championship because we have been drawn in the group of ‘death’,” Asyraaf said when contacted on Saturday.
He said Malaysia is in the same group with defending champions Japan A, Korea B, Iran A and Thailand.
Asyraaf also noted that his squad comprises entirely players that compete in the league for Higher Education Institutions. His attempt to get HEI players from the Malaysia League failed to materialise as their clubs and teams refused to allow their release.
A total of 20 players will make the cut for the team from 27 that attend training.
They have played two friendly matches so far, winning 2-1 against the Selangor Under-19 squad and 3-1 over the Felda Youth Cup squad.
The players on the team are Che Ammar Khamis (UiTM Perlis), Muhammad Asymawi Ramli (UiTM Jengka), Yoganathan Munusamy ( City University College), Shahrizam Sahar (Universiti Malaysia Sabah), Rijal Fikry Yusoff Muhammad (UKM), Muhammad Raihan Huzaizi (Politeknik Kota Bahru Kelantan), Mohamad Hazwan Nizam (UiTM), Muhammad Jadid Ilias (UPSI), Muhammad Nuriqmal Tumin (UPSI), Gan Jay Han (Northern Arizona University), Muhamad Fikri Mohammad Yusof (UiTM), Noor Ikqmal Rieezal Zanil (UKM), Carlos Benjamin Goonting (Sunway University), Luveen Visnu (Sunway University), Mohd Hamirul Hakimi Mohd Akher (UiTM Melaka), Aiman Amran (Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin Terengganu), Syafie Abd Rahman (UNiSZA), Adam Othman Mohd Arfah (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu), Badrul Hafiz Mohd Isa (UPSI) and Mohd Hazwan Nizam Fazil (UPSI).