COVID RED CARD FOR SHAFI
Striker tests positive ahead of AFF Under-23 Championship
IS Covid-19 becoming a problem for Brad Maloney’s AFF Under-23 Championship side? Yesterday, Maloney confirmed that Shafi Azswad Sapari tested positive for Covid-19.
The striker is the second player to get infected after Fahmi Daniel Zaaim, who tested positive upon arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Cambodia on Friday ahead of the tournament.
Despite their unavailability,
Malaysia will still have 27 players for today’s opening Group B match against Myanmar in Phnom Penh.
“We’ve had a few issues. Shafi tested negative before departure from Kuala Lumpur.
“However, he tested positive here,” said Maloney in Phnom Penh yesterday.
“As for Fahmi, we’re in constant contact with him, and he’s asymptomatic. He is keeping fit by exercising daily.
“We are extremely disappointed. However, it is something we have to overcome as the quarantine period is seven days.
“The duo will have to take another test 48 hours upon completing quarantine before joining the team.”
The Australian will not call for a replacement as it is logistically impossible to bring in a player from KL ahead of today’s match at Prince Stadium.
“We are experimenting a bit with strategies and options to find the best combination for the match.
“The goal is to be competitive. We have several new faces in the squad, and I would like to see them do well.”
Kedah’s Aiman Afif Afizul has been appointed as captain for the tournament.
He had also captained the national Under-19 team in 2019.
Aiman said: “It is a huge responsibility to be captain of the team.
“I have yet to play against Myanmar, but we know they have the quality. We need to do our best for a win,” said the midfielder.
After Myanmar, Maloney’s side will play Laos on Friday.
Meanwhile, Myanmar coach Velizar Popov has downplayed his team’s chances against Malaysia, claiming that several core players are not in his team.
“Several players rejected the call-up due to various reasons.
“We have other problems as well. We are crippled by injuries and Covid-19 here.
“However, I am only using the tournament to test my players ahead of the Vietnam Sea Games later this year, which is our priority,” he said.