What a relief!

National Under-23 coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee is finally able to do what he was supposed to have done last week – get the 26-player training squad ready for the 2018 AFC Under-23 qualifiers in Bangkok from July 19-23. Last week, only six players reported for duty. Even then, four left to rejoin their teams in the M-League. No wonder Kim Swee was all smiles at the Shah Alam Stadium as he barked instructions to the players, who will feature in a friendly against Myanmar today before the final squad of 23 fly off to Bangkok on Monday.

PETALING JAYA: Pahang have as good as given up hope of fighting for the Super League title this season.

The Elephants lost 2-0 to runaway leaders Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on Tuesday. This leaves Pahang trailing JDT by a massive 12 points.

The Southern Tigers are looking for their fourth straight Super League title as they now have a nine-point lead over second-placed Kedah at the top of the 12-team standings with 36 points from 15 matches.

Pahang coach Dollah Salleh knows the score and conceded that their fight is virtually over with seven more matches to play.

“It’s difficult now, but we will keep trying to narrow the gap on JDT. Our focus now is on the Malaysia Cup,” said Dollah.

The JDT side, under new Portuguese coach Ulisses Morais, were in devastating form in Tuesday’s match and got their goals through Gonzalo Gabrera (second minute) and Ignacio Insa (86th).

JDT need just four wins from their remaining seven matches to be crowned champions again.

Their remaining fixtures are against Sarawak (July 15), T-Team (July 22), Perak (July 26), Selangor (Aug 5), Kelantan (Sept 20), Felda United (Sept 30) and Kedah (Oct 21).

Pahang have struggled to hit form since the M-League resumed after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri break on July 1.

They have been winless since then – losing 2-1 to Felda United in the Super League and drawing their two Group A Malaysia Cup matches against Premier League sides Negri Sembilan 2-2 (July 4) and Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) 1-1 (July 7).

Dollah, who attributed their loss of form to his strikers’ profligacy, acknowledged that JDT have added more depth to their engine room by signing Insa from Spain.

“Our forwards have failed to show up. Insa has made the difference for JDT,” said Dollah.