ID :
198092
Fri, 07/29/2011 - 14:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/198092
The shortlink copeid
MALAYSIA NOT READY FOR THE 'BIG LEAGUE' YET - FORMER COACH
KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- The loss to Singapore may be a hard pill
to swallow for Malaysia but in reality, the young tigers are still not ready to
compete at the highest level, says former national football coach.
After having won the Laos SEA Games gold medal in 2009 and the AFF Suzuki
Cup last year, Malaysia who were regarded as the best team in South East Asia,
failed to beat Singapore Thursday night and missed the opportunity to advance to
the third round of the 2014 Asian Zone World Cup Qualifier.
Malaysia who lost 3-5 in the first leg of the second round to Singapore at
the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last Saturday, could only manage a 1-1 in
the return leg at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Thursday night and lost
out on a 4-6 aggregate.
Former National coach B. Sathianathan said based on the performances of the
team this month, it can be concluded that we are still not ready to compete
against the likes of Asian football powerhouses like South Korea, Japan or
middle east countries.
In the four matches that Malaysia lost this month, 18 goals were conceded
against eight goals scored, underlining a chink in the Armour of Datuk K.
Rajagobal's trusted guards.
Malaysia lost 2-3 to Taiwan in the second leg of the first round 2014 Asian
Zone World Cup Qualifier and again lost 0-4 to English Premier League club
Arsenal and 3-6 to Liverpool before the 3-5 loss to Singapore last Saturday.
"Singapore were more composed, controlled play and better organised. They
also created more chances," he told Bernama.
In contrast, the Malaysian players were did not display their true
capabilities, probably because they were under pressure and were tense
throughout the match, except for a few players, he said.
According to Sathianathan, only the brilliance of goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi
Che Mat prevented Singapore from scoring more goals last night.
Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani Minhat or better known as 'King Ball' to the
Malaysian football fraternity when contacted said, the players were in a state
of panic and not focused.
"Maybe there were too obsessed with the two goal deficit and that probably
added on to the pressure because despite the strong support from the fans,
nothing went according to their game plan," he said.
Ghani added that the loss had exposed a number of weaknesses that need to be
rectified while their mental and physical strength need to be restored so that
they can continue the task ahead in the future.
Malaysia's next assignment will be the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia come
November.
-- BERNAMA
to swallow for Malaysia but in reality, the young tigers are still not ready to
compete at the highest level, says former national football coach.
After having won the Laos SEA Games gold medal in 2009 and the AFF Suzuki
Cup last year, Malaysia who were regarded as the best team in South East Asia,
failed to beat Singapore Thursday night and missed the opportunity to advance to
the third round of the 2014 Asian Zone World Cup Qualifier.
Malaysia who lost 3-5 in the first leg of the second round to Singapore at
the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last Saturday, could only manage a 1-1 in
the return leg at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil Thursday night and lost
out on a 4-6 aggregate.
Former National coach B. Sathianathan said based on the performances of the
team this month, it can be concluded that we are still not ready to compete
against the likes of Asian football powerhouses like South Korea, Japan or
middle east countries.
In the four matches that Malaysia lost this month, 18 goals were conceded
against eight goals scored, underlining a chink in the Armour of Datuk K.
Rajagobal's trusted guards.
Malaysia lost 2-3 to Taiwan in the second leg of the first round 2014 Asian
Zone World Cup Qualifier and again lost 0-4 to English Premier League club
Arsenal and 3-6 to Liverpool before the 3-5 loss to Singapore last Saturday.
"Singapore were more composed, controlled play and better organised. They
also created more chances," he told Bernama.
In contrast, the Malaysian players were did not display their true
capabilities, probably because they were under pressure and were tense
throughout the match, except for a few players, he said.
According to Sathianathan, only the brilliance of goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi
Che Mat prevented Singapore from scoring more goals last night.
Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani Minhat or better known as 'King Ball' to the
Malaysian football fraternity when contacted said, the players were in a state
of panic and not focused.
"Maybe there were too obsessed with the two goal deficit and that probably
added on to the pressure because despite the strong support from the fans,
nothing went according to their game plan," he said.
Ghani added that the loss had exposed a number of weaknesses that need to be
rectified while their mental and physical strength need to be restored so that
they can continue the task ahead in the future.
Malaysia's next assignment will be the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia come
November.
-- BERNAMA
