KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia may be forced to withdraw from the football event in next month’s Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games due to lack of “good players.”
This is the grim scenario facing coach Ong Kim Swee as several teams, playing in the Malaysia Cup, are reluctant to release their players.
The M-League teams want their best players for the Malaysia Cup but its dates clash with the Asian Games on August 14-Sept 1.
The FA of Malaysia can’t force the teams to release their stars as the Asian Games is not listed in world body, Fifa’s international window.
In view of the situation, Kim Swee has not ruled out the possibility of Malaysia withdrawing from the Asian Games if he does not have enough players to mount a strong challenge.
The coach admitted that he has no plan B if the selected players for national training do not turn up.
Kim Swee pointed out that when he listed 24 players for the Asian Games with six as reserves, it means he can only work with the 30 players, “We must have at least 18, as that is the minimum allowed for the Asian Games.”
Kim Swee stressed that if Malaysia can’t get 18 decent players, they might as well withdraw from the Asian Games.
He has called on the clubs involved to support the national team and release their players for the Asian Games.
“I hope the clubs will cooperate as this is for the country,” said Kim Swee.
“Though the Malaysia Cup clashes with the Asian Games, this involves only a few matches. I am sure without their national players, the teams can still put up a good fight in the Malaysia Cup.”
The FAM, on Wednesday, called up 24 players for national training starting on July 30 but there is no guarantee the players concerned will be released by their clubs.
Asian giants South Korea do not face such a problem. The Koreans are going all out to get their best players for the Asian Games, and they have the cooperation of the clubs.
Tottenham Hotspur today announced that their forward Son Heung-min can turn out for South Korea in the Asian Games.
Heung-min scored a goal against Germany in the recent World Cup and played a key role in the elimination of the defending world champions in Russia.