Vingada will make do with 23 players for Asian Cup qualifiers
PETALING JAYA: National football coach Eduardo Vingada will have only 23 players at his disposal for the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying Group B double header against North Korea in Thailand on Friday and Monday.
The Portuguese coach was forced to drop Kedah midfielder Baddrol Bakhtiar and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) striker Darren Lok due to injuries. There was further bad news as defender Junior Eldstal, another JDT player, withdrew due to personal commitments.
To replace the players, Vingada called up defender Ahmad Khairil Anuar Zamri of Perak and midfielder Hadin Azman of Felda United.
“It’s a difficult situation with 23 players as we might lose some players through injuries and suspensions for the second North Korea match (on Monday). But nothing much can be done as we are flying off to Buriram (Thailand) tomorrow,” said the 64-year-old Vingada after a training session at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
The 10 JDT players – Safiq Rahim, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Safawi Rasid, Izham Tarmizi Roslan, Fadhli Shas, Fazly Mazlan, Afiq Fazail, S. Kunalan and Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham – did not join yesterday’s training session.
They only checked in last night. The 10 were given time off after being involved in the Malaysia Cup final where JDT beat Kedah 2-0 at the Shah Alam Stadium on Saturday.
Vingada said that the numerous set-backs should not be used as an excuse to put up a poor performance against North Korea.
Malaysia are last in the four-team Group B with a single point from three matches.
Lebanon lead with 10 points from four matches. Hong Kong, also on four matches, are second with five points. North Korea are third with two points from three matches.
“We only have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the Asian Cup Finals. It’s hard but we will fight in these two matches. Anything is possible if you keep fighting in football,” said Vingada, who took charge of the team in May.
Under Vingada, Malaysia have yet to record a win in five matches.
Against Lebanon in their opening match in Johor on June 13, Malaysia lost 2-1.
Malaysia then lost two friendlies – 2-1 to Syria and 1-0 to Myanmar – before being held to a 1-1 draw by Hong Kong in their second Group B match in Melaka on Sept 5.
Last month, Malaysia were beaten 2-0 by Hong Kong in the reverse fixture.