“DON’T lose hope and fight on until the last drop of your blood.”
That’s my advice to the national Sea Games football team who were humbled 1-0 by the Philippines in Friday’s Group A match in Manila.
Friday was indeed a ‘black’ day for Malaysian football.
In women’s competition, the dominant Philippines thrashed Malaysia 5-0 to reach the semi-finals.
Of course, the defeat to the Filipino men’s team, who we still regard as minnows in this region, is embarrassing considering that our national senior and youth sides have been making steady progress.
Coach Ong Kim Swee labeled the defeat as “shameful” and that everyone in the team should feel ashamed as Philippines showed more hunger to succeed.
For the record, it was Kim Swee’s most embarrassing defeat in his fifth straight Sea Games outing as a coach.
Many now feel it’s time for Kim Swee to go as he has been in the hot seat for a long time.
Most have even forgotten what he has achieved with the national youth team in the past.
Apart from guiding the team to the Sea Games title in 2011, he also masterminded Malaysia’s famous 2-1 win over the Son Heung Min-led South Korea in last year’s Indonesia Asian Games to top their group before being shown the door by Japan in the last 16.
He also guided the team to the quarter-finals of last year’s AFC Under-23 Championship following the surprise 1-0 win over Middle East giants Saudi Arabia.
But now everyone seems to have forgotten his contributions.
True, the team had no business losing to the Philippines.
The team clearly lacked depth, especially in attack.
Akhyar Rashid and the six others with senior caps are also not performing up to expectations.
The absence of forward Safawi Rasid and US-based Wan Kuzain Wan Kamal could be one reason for their dismal run, with the synthetic pitch at the Rizal Memorial Stadium also being a contributing factor.
The seniors only reported for training a few days before the youth team left for Manila as they were with Tan Cheng Hoe’s team for the World Cup qualifiers.
Many things did not go Kim Swee’s way in the build up to the Sea Games, so it is unfair to blame him alone for the defeat.
However, it is not the end of the world yet.
Yes, Malaysia have lost to the Philippines, the rising football nation in the region, but they still have two more games to play — and make amends.
If Malaysia can beat Timor Leste and Cambodia, and other results go their way, they will be in the semi-finals.
There are passionate fans who cannot accept defeats. They, however, should keep cool and support Kim Swee’s side until their final match instead of criticising the coaches and players.
Good luck in your next game, Young Tigers.