SAD DAY FOR MARHAN
Injured midfielder misses the boat to Gold Coast
MIDFIELDER Marhan Jalil was the biggest casualty when national coach Stephen van Huizen named his 18man team yesterday for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games on April 4-15.
Marhan broke a toe while playing in the recent Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh, and will be rested.
Marhan was feeling down when met yesterday, but said rehabilitation is important for him to play in future tournaments, and he also did not want to be a spanner in the works.
“My injury can heal fast, but I do not want to be a burden to the team as there is a possibility that I might not be ble to give my best during the Games.
“The doctor told me I need at least six weeks to heal properly, so it’s advisable I sit out the Gold Coast challenge.
“I hope my teammates give their very best in the Games as it’s one of the tournaments we need to do well in the buildup towards the Asian Game and World Cup later this year.”
Van Huizen also benched Nik Aiman Rozemi, who picked up an injury during the 4-1 win against Ireland in the Azlan Shah Cup.
Regular Izat Hakimi Jamaluddin was also not included as his old injury is yet to heal.
Another regular, Faiz Helmi, asked to be excused from the Games as he wanted to give his full attention to his studies in his last semester at Universiti Malaya.
In the Commonwealth Games, Malaysia are in Group B with England, India, Pakistan and Wales.
THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES SQUAD: Hairi Rahman (GK), Hafizuddin Othman (GK), Shukri Mutalib, Razie Rahim, Najmi Farizal, Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan, Amirol Aideed, Fitri Saari, Nabil Fiqri Noor, Azri Hassan, Joel Samuel Van Huizen, Meor Azuan Hassan, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Faizal Shaari, Ramadan Rosli, Shahril Saabah, Firhan Ashari, Norsyafiq Sumantri.