Crunch time for Kim Swee
MAKE OR BREAK: Coach faces Myanmar test with job on the line
IT is do or die for Malaysia coach Ong Kim Swee and his Myanmar counterpart, Gerd Zeise in Yangon today.
The pressure will not only be intense on their teams but their futures as national coaches will also be on the line.
However, Kim Swee and his players can approach the match with peace of mind as the cabinet yesterday decided Malaysia will not withdraw from the AFF Cup in protest over the atrocities against the Rohingyas.
“We welcome the decision and are glad it’s over. My players can now focus better on the match tomorrow,” said Kim Swee.
Malaysia and Myanmar face off in a crucial Group B match with Kim Swee at a disadvantage, as the hosts will go through on goal difference if the match ends in a draw.
Kim Swee has been criticised for various issues since early this year while Zeise has come under intense pressure following his team’s poor record at home since last October.
Malaysia played Myanmar in Yangon on eight occasions since 1951 with the former winning three, drawing four and losing one.
Myanmar’s only success over Malaysia at home came in 2008, where they won 4-1 in the semi-finals of the Grand Royal Challenge Myanmar coach Group B clash today.
and Malaysia coach Cup.
As for Malaysia, their 2-1 triumph in a friendly in 1999 was the last recorded victory over their rivals in Yangon.
“I was very impressed with the performance of Malaysia in the 1-0 loss to Vietnam on Wednesday. We met them in a friendly in May, where we drew 0-0, but Kim Swee has brought a different squad here,” said Zeise in Yangon yesterday.
“The situation is different now than in the friendly in May. Both teams are fighting for points and I see an intense battle. It is a do-or-die
exchange pleasantries ahead of their AFF Cup mission for both teams, and normally a team would not want to lose at this stage.”
On whether his team will play for a draw today, Zeise said if his team play for one point, they will lose the game.
“If I tell my players to play for a draw, they will switch off and that’s not what I want. We need to churn out our ‘A’ game tomorrow to qualify for the semi-finals,” Zeise added.
As for Malaysia, the team will be playing with added motivation as they have improved by eight rungs to 156th in the latest Fifa ranking,
their best since March 2015.
Kim Swee is concerned whether his players can recover in time after two tough afternoon matches.
“Definitely, it is tough to fully recover after playing two afternoon matches in six days. However, the players have been responding well to the recovery processes.
“I hope everyone will be fresh enough and eager for tomorrow’s game. Myanmar showed determination in previous games with their young players and we need to be prepared,” said Kim Swee.
The coach may reshuffle his team as winger Syazwan Zainon and defender Ronny Harun are down with injuries.