More bite for Harimau Malaya
players Natxo Insa and La’Vere Corbin-Ong will lend a measure of experience to a youthful-looking national team who play Mongolia in a friendly match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil today.
Only five players in the 29-man Harimau Malaya squad have more than 40 caps after national coach Tan Cheng Hoe called up 10 members of the team who reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Under-23 Championship in January.
With Insa and Corbin-Ong among nine players who have yet to play for the senior national team, it leaves Cheng Hoe with the dilemma of who he is going to pick to face Mongolia.
Cheng Hoe indicated he will go with his strongest side in a bid to gain a win which will end a 10match winless run for the national team while also assessing his options for Tuesday’s Asian Cup qualifier against Lebanon in Beirut.
Captain Safiq Rahim, who together with right-back S. Kunanlan have the most caps in the squad after 77 appearances, said his Johor Darul Ta’zim teammates Insa and Corbin-Ong are not novices despite not having played for Malaysia yet.
“Insa has played in Spain’s La Liga and brings a wealth of experience while Corbin-Ong (with Canadian background) has also played in Europe,” said Safiq at Wisma FAM yesterday.
“Just as they do at JDT, they can help the team work together through planning our game on the pitch. We have a number of young players and I hope the Under-23 boys will continue to perform as well as they did in China.
“I think the mix of young and experienced players in the squad is a good blend for this team.”
As Kunanlan is out with an injury, that leave midfielder Safiq, defender Fadhli Shas, goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and winger Mahalli Jasuli as the elder statesmen in the squad.
With midfielder Insa and leftback Corbin-Ong almost certain to start and Matthew Davies to field the right-back role, that leaves Cheng Hoe to decide on who to partner Fadhli in central defence.
Kiko Insa, the Bangkok Glass defender, could start but has only just recovered from an eye infection though Cheng Hoe has the option of fielding Adam Nor Azlin, Adib Zainuddin or Rawilson Batuil.
If Cheng Hoe opts for a threeman midfield then Shahrul Saad or Irfan Zakaria could line up alongside Safiq and Natxo Insa while Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Safawi Rasid and Mahalli could fill the attacking berths.