KUALA LUMPUR: National youth coach Ong Kim Swee reminded his players that the mission is not over yet in the AFC Under-23 Championship as they need to focus on achieving another significant first in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
Malaysia recorded a sensational 1-0 win over 2013 runners-up Saudi Arabia in a Group C match on Tuesday to qualify for the quarter-finals.
Earlier, Kim Swee’s side drew 1-1 with Jordan, but lost 4-1 to Iraq.
“It does not matter who we meet in the quarter-finals as all teams that have reached this far are the elites in the competition. There are no underdogs in the knockout stage,” said Kim Swee on Wednesday.
“All quarter-final matches will be tight. I will prepare my players accordingly and do our best for the country.”
Kim Swee is not new to success as he had guided his Under-23 side to the gold medal at the 2011 Sea Games in Jakarta. Last year, his team made the final of the KL edition only to lose 1-0 to Thailand.
“Our achievements in the Sea Games will always be memorable to me but we cannot use them as a yardstick when we are talking about Asian level competitions.
“I have told my boys to stop celebrating as we need to focus on the quarter-finals.
“We are not underdogs anymore...we are among the elite teams in Asia’s Under-23 level, so I want my boys to dedicate their commitment on Saturday,” Kim Swee added.
Translated from Harian Metro