FT urges FAM to review friendlies’ schedule

KUALA LUMPUR: The Federal Territories Malaysian Games (Sukma) football squad is urging the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to review the involvements of three of its mainstays who were called up to take part in training and friendly matches with the national Under-19 (U-19) squad abroad.

Team manager Syed Yazid Syed Omar said the absence of the three players would have an adverse impact on the squad in the opening game against Johor on Saturday.

“It will adversely affect our team in the opening game in the absence of Muhd Azhar Apandi (defender), Nabil Hakim Bokhari (defender) and Muhd Talhah Rosli (midfielder) where our target is to win in the first match so we can get an easy route to the quarter-finals.

“In principle, I did not release them for training and friendly matches in Oman and South Korea for the national squad but they have all been called up ... if possible FAM should look back at the tables so they can focus on Sukma,” he told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium yesterday.

He said all the players in question would only have the chance to play in the second match against Terengganu which would take place at the University Pendidikan Sultan Idris Stadium, Sultan Azlan Shah Campus, Tanjung Malim.

The Federal Territories were drawn in Group B together with Johor, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan in Perak SUKMA which would open its curtain this week.