New national football coach

Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s first act as FAM president is the appointment of Argentine Mario Gomez to replace Datuk Ong Kim Swee.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Ong Kim Swee is taking his demotion in his stride.

Yesterday, the 45-year-old was removed as head coach of the national team following a coaching shake-up by new Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

Kim Swee will replace Frank Bernhardt as the national Under-22 coach. The German’s services will be terminated after his return from the Dubai Cup Under-23 tournament in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The tournament ends on March 28.

Argentine Mario Gomez is now the new head coach of the national team.

The 59-year-old Gomez, who steered Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) to the 2015 AFC Cup crown, will assume his duties with immediate effect. Gomez’s first assignment is the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying tournament in June.

For Kim Swee, he will prepare the Under-22 team for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games from Aug 19-31.

“I will perform the task given to me. Whatever decision that is good for our football, I’ll take it,” said Kim Swee.

It will be Kim Swee’s fourth SEA Games. He led Malaysia to victory in Indonesia in 2011. He was unsuccessful in his other two attempts in Myanmar in 2013 and Singapore in 2015.

“I have a lot of experience in the SEA Games, so I don’t think there’s a problem in handling the team,” he said.

Kim Swee, who was appointed national coach in January last year, came under intense fire after the dismal showing in the AFF Suzuki Cup last year as Malaysia failed to get past the group stage.

“I have been with the FAM for 13 years, starting from the youth level. I must thank Tunku Ismail for his faith and confidence in me.

“This is my fourth SEA Games, so I know what to expect. We have the advantage being the hosts and we must use it well this time,” said Kim Swee.