Kim Swee keeps players mentally strong in do or die against Myanmar

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Ong Kim Swee wants his men to think big when they face Myanmar in their AFF Under-22 Group B final match at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, today.

Malaysia need a win against Myanmar and hope that hosts Cambodia beat Indonesia in the other group match so that they can finish second and advance to the semi-finals.

Cambodia topped the four-team group with an unassailable six points with wins over Malaysia (1-0) and Myanmar (2-0). Indonesia are second with two points following draws with Myanmar (1-1) and Malaysia (2-2).

Malaysia and Myanmar both have a point each after a draw and a defeat.

Kim Swee said he planned to test his players to the limit in Cambodia before the AFC Under-23 Championship qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur from March 22-26.

“We need a win over Myanmar, we can’t be going into our game thinking about what will happen between Cambodia and Indonesia. Our task is to beat Myanmar first,” said Kim Swee.

“My main goal is to expose the players and look at all the departments before the AFC Under-23 Championship. The condition of the pitch and the timing of the matches may not have been ideal but this has been a good tournament.

“They’ve showed tremendous character to come back twice to hold Indonesia to a draw ... I want the players to show this character consistently.”