Philippines replace Myanmar
KAFA deputy president (second left) on Wednesday. THE national Under-22 team will face the Philippines in a friendly match in Manila next week after the FA of Malaysia cancelled two scheduled games against Myanmar.
While not quite what national youth coach Frank Bernhardt had wanted, the German said the match against the Philippines, who Malaysia beat 4-1 in March at Paroi, is better than nothing.
The cancellation of the trip to Yangon comes against the backdrop of the Malaysian government’s objection to Myanmar troops’ continued oppression of the Rohingya ethnic
(second right) goes over the contract with newly-appointed Kelantan coach minority group in the north of the country.
Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin wanted the senior national team to pull out of the AFF Cup in Yangon last week before the Cabinet gave the go-ahead to play their final group match against the hosts, which Malaysia lost 1-0 to exit the tournament.
The Myanmar Under-22 team would have provided sterner opposition to Bernhardt’s squad as part of Malaysia’s preparation for the 2017 Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur.
“The two matches against Myanmar was our plan and it would have been better for me,” said Bernhardt at the National Sports Institute in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
“It is not my decision and I think it has something to do with FAM or the government. I am trying to get the best out of this.
“I think playing one international match (against Philippines) is still better than nothing or playing against club teams.
“All the clubs are in pre-season preparation and not ready to play.”
The match against the Philippines will be held on Thursday in Manila where Bernhardt will be without several key players due to injuries.
Kelantan defender Faris Shah Rosli and Kedah full-back Ariff Farhan Isa are sidelined after undergoing surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate ligaments and could even miss the Sea Games.
Joining them in the treatment room are Kuala Lumpur midfielder Irfan Zakaria and Sarawak winger Nur Shahmie Iszuan Amin with Shahrul Hakim Rahim and M. Kogileswaran Raj called up from Kelantan and Pahang respectively as replacements.