KUALA LUMPUR: National futsal coach Chiew Chun Yong believes his team are almost on par with Thailand even though they lost 4-2 to their rivals in the AFF Championship in Yogyakarta on Sunday.
Chun Yong was satisfied with the overall performance of his charges in the tournament.
"Yes, we are almost on par with Thailand. The only thing our players need is more international exposure to attain better results.
"That is my plan for these players. We are also trying to tap new players with quality, so we are on the right path,” he said yesterday.
Chun Yong does not see the defeat to the Thais as a huge blow.
“We made the final by overcoming higher ranked Vietnam in the semi-finals. They prepared for a long time, so the victory is a sweet one.
“My charges did not do too badly against Thailand... we managed to give them anxious moments in the final.
"I will work with my core players and come up with the best plan for the next edition,” he added.