KUALA LUMPUR: Former national footballer, Serbegeth Singh feels that the FA of Malaysia (FAM) should not count on state or club teams to release their Under-23 players for the Asian Games in August.
Serbegeth said it is better for national Under-23 coach, Ong Kim Swee to use the services of Under-21 footballers if the Under-23 players cannot answer their national call-up.
"As of now we are not sure whether the teams will release the players for the Asian Games but I believe there will be a conflict as the Asian Games coincides with the Malaysia Cup.
"FAM do not have the authority to order state or club teams to release their players because the Asian Games is not on Fifa’s calendar.
“To avoid problems, it's better for Kim Swee to give other players the opportunity.
“If we can't use the best Under-23 players, use the Under-23 second string. If not, just use Under-21 players as exposure for the future."
It has been reported that Kim Swee is worried about Malaysia’s Asian Games preparation because he may not have the nation’s best Under-23 players for the event which clashes with the Malaysia Cup.
For the AFC Under-23 championship in Bangkok last July, Kim Swee was shocked when only six of the selected 26 players reported for duty on the first day of centralised training.
Kim Swee had hoped to bring the best squad to the Asian Games in the hopes of another sensational result like what his team did at the the AFC Under-23 Championship in China earlier this year.
Serbegeth, who is also a TV football pundit, said if Kim Swee can't have the best 11 players, then there should not be high expectations.
"IF we use a lot of young players, don't put a high target or put pressure on them. If we're defeated, that is the price we pay for exposure," he said.