AS GOOD AS THE REST AND READY TO GO

Coach Kim Swee believes his boys have the quality to achieve their target

MALAYSIA should not see themselves as inferior, but a team who could go the distance in the football competition at the Asian Games. Ong Kim Swee’s side’s quarter-final feat in the AFC Under-23 Championship in January and recent fine performances in friendlies against China and the United Arab Emirates show that they have the quality as they start their Group E campaign against Kyrgyzstan today in Bandung.

Little is known about Kyrgyzstan’s players and their preparations for the Asian Games, except that they play similar football like other Central Asian teams.

With defending champions South Korea and Bahrain in the same group, Kim Swee knows that the match today will be crucial to his team’s hopes of achieving their last-16 target.

“Kyrgyzstan play like Uzbekistan and other Central Asian teams.

“They have excellent technique and their players have quality.

“They play in a competitive league in their country.

“There are not many recent videos available on matches involving Kyrgyzstan.

“I did, however, analyse videos of their matches played before the AFC Under-23 event.

“I know a bit about them, and I expect a very competitive match.

“I will field my best players tomorrow and also for other matches,” said Kim Swee yesterday.

Malaysia’s best show in the Asian Games after it was turned into an Under23 tournament was last-16 achieved in 2010 Guangzhou when K. Rajagobal was managing the team.

It has been a rocky road for Kim Swee in preparing his squad as several players got injured in training while some were not released by their clubs.

However, it did not deter Kim Swee, regarded as one of the best tacticians in Southeast Asia, from turning his squad into a formidable unit.

The 2-0 win over UAE in an ill-tempered friendly last week proves Kim Swee’s squad are ready for the mission.

The coach will likely instruct his boys to play a tight game against Kyrgyzstan and score goals on the counter for a favourable result.

The Melaka-born is not known to take risks and fans will likely see a cautious approach by the Malaysian team.

“All matches here are important but tomorrow will be the most crucial as a good result will set the tone for our goal to achieve the target,” he added.