KUALA LUMPUR: National Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee and his Australian assistant Brad Maloney left for Spain on Monday for a month-long attachment with La Liga side Atletico Madrid.
However, Kim Swee is not only there to learn from Atletico coach Diego Simeone as he is also on a fact-finding mission to learn about the club’s grassroots and academy structures.
Kim Swee and Maloney will also get to observe Spain’s training sessions for their international friendly matches against Germany and Argentina next month.
Both coaches are expected to gain from the experience as they will be working closely with Simeone, who is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world, and his coaching team
“We will be based at Atletico. We will also observe Spain’s training sessions ahead of their friendly matches,” said Kim Swee.
Kim Swee had a fruitful season in 2017. The former international’s Under-23 side not only reached the final of the KL Sea Games but also made the quarter-finals of the AFC Under-23 Championship in China.
Kim Swee said his youth squad will play friendly matches ahead of the Indonesia Asian Games in August.
“We are now monitoring Under-21 players in the President’s Cup for options. My assistants Khan Hung Meng, Kris Yong and Reuben Jude will do so until I return from Spain. The first phase of training starts on March 18.
“I will return to KL on March 25 and will immediately start work with the trainees. We have a friendly game on March 27,” Kim Swee added.