KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya coach Dollah Salleh has been urged to rectify glaring weaknesses in the national squad following their 6-0 loss to Oman in a friendly on Thursday.
Football Association Of Malaysia (FAM) president Tengku Abdullah regarded the result as difficult to accept and demanded that Dollah perform a revamp, especially tactically.
“I was also shocked at the result. Although, it is a friendly match, we shouldn’t be too friendly so as to let in six goals. I am not satisfied with the result,” said Tengku Abdullah, who is also Asian Hockey Federation (AFC) President.
He said this at a media conference after chairing the first meeting of AFC council members here, today.
“We must make careful preparations each time there is a friendly match, regardless of the team we will be facing,” he said.
Tengku Abdullah also stressed that such matches should be continued in the future to improve the weaknesses of the national football squad.
In the meantime, he urged the national Under-22 squad to rise to the occasion and win against Macau in their second action of Group 1 in the Under-23 qualifying round of the 2016 Asian Football Confederation Cup at the Shah Alam Stadium tomorrow. Malaysia lost 2-1 to Vietnam in the opening match at the same venue yesterday, making their effort difficult to book a slot to the final round of the championship in Qatar, in January next year.
“It is also a disappointment, and I hope the team will rise to the occasion in the subsequent match against Macau. Preparations have been made and coach (Razip Ismail) must boost the quality of play of the team,” Tengku Abdullah added. - BERNAMA