Show up or face the axe
Matthew and Nor Azam must report for training by today or get dropped
PETALING JAYA: Pahang defender Matthew Davies and midfielder Nor Azam Azih must report for the Asian Games centralised training today or face the axe.
National Under-23 coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee said the duo were the only players from the squad of 28 who have not reported for training at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
He said he has yet to receive updates on the status of Matthew and Nor Azam and will not hesitate to drop them from the Asiad squad if they do not report for training today.
“We need to focus on our preparation and keep moving forward because we only have two or three days to train.
“If they don’t turn up tomorrow (today), I’ll take it as they are not interested to join the team.”
“These players are key players but I can’t be thinking about the impact of not having them in the team.
“I believe we have enough options in the team in these two players’ position.”
“It’s up to the management to decide on this two players.
“I’ll just work with the players we have with us now,” said Kim Swee yesterday.
The other two players from Pahang – M. Kogileswaran Raj and Faisal Abdul Halim – turned up for training yesterday.
Kim Swee said Johor Darul Ta’zim II player Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak will be joining camp today as he is involved in the President’s Cup.
Kim Swee’s men will fly of to Changzhou, China, on Thursday for a friendly against the China Under-23 team on Sunday.
Malaysia are drawn with defending champions South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain in Group E and will begin their campaign on Aug 10.
If they don’t turn up tomorrow (today), I’ll take it as they are not interested to join the team. These players are key players but I can’t be thinking about the impact of not having them in the team. Datuk Ong Kim Swee