Malaysian players show off the new national team kits at its launch at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya yesterday. — Picture by Fariz Iswadi Ismail
THE injury crisis facing the national Under-23 footballers for the Asian Games highlighted the need for experience with the inclusion of Norhafiz Zamani Misbah at Safee Sali's expense when coach K. Rajagobal named his 20-man squad yesterday. With nearly the entire back-four missing, national team captain Zamani was drafted in as one of the overage players to plug the gaps in defence which meant there was no place for Selangor striker Safee.
Zamani was only being considered for the AFF Suzuki Cup next month but the loss of Aidil Zafuan Radzak, Azmi Muslim and Nasriq Baharom forced the coach's hand.
"I was not considering Zamani for the Asian Games but I didn't expect injuries to impact so many defenders. My earlier consideration in choosing the overage players was to replace Zaquan (Adha Radzak) but I had to adapt to the situation," said Rajagobal after the launch of the new national team kit at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
Winger S. Kunanlan and striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha are the other two above-23 players named while the remainder of the squad picked itself from the provisional list of 30 after injuries claimed six key players in the training squad.
Zamani, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri and Safiq Rahim are the only survivors from the 2006 Doha Asian Games squad while two rookie goalkeepers in Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and Zamir Selamat well get to play in their first major tournament.
"Ideally, I wanted a senior goalkeeper to instill confidence in the defence and guide the squad. But Farizal (Marlias) had facial surgery and is lacking match fitness while Sharbinee (Allawee Ramli) injured his shoulder.
"We have China and Japan in our group, and without six key players it is going to be very difficult. There is no target but what is important is for the team to play well.
"I cannot accept it if we don't play well," said Rajagobal, who was only able to name nine players from the victorious 2009 Sea Games squad.
Malaysia open their Group A campaign against Kyrgyzstan on Monday before meeting Japan (Nov 10) and China (Nov 13).
The squad -- Goalkeepers: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Zamir Selamat; Defenders: Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (capt), Muslim Ahmad, Mahalli Jasuli, Fadhli Shas, Asraruddin Putra Omar, Fandi Othman, Faizal Muhammad; Midfielders: Safiq Rahim, K. Gurusamy, Amar Rohidan, Faizal Abu Bakar, S. Kunanlan, Gary Steven Robat, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri; Strikers: Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Izzaq Faris Ramlan, S. Chanturu, Ahmad Fakri Saarani.
www.nst.com.myZamani was only being considered for the AFF Suzuki Cup next month but the loss of Aidil Zafuan Radzak, Azmi Muslim and Nasriq Baharom forced the coach's hand.
"I was not considering Zamani for the Asian Games but I didn't expect injuries to impact so many defenders. My earlier consideration in choosing the overage players was to replace Zaquan (Adha Radzak) but I had to adapt to the situation," said Rajagobal after the launch of the new national team kit at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya yesterday.
Winger S. Kunanlan and striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha are the other two above-23 players named while the remainder of the squad picked itself from the provisional list of 30 after injuries claimed six key players in the training squad.
Zamani, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri and Safiq Rahim are the only survivors from the 2006 Doha Asian Games squad while two rookie goalkeepers in Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and Zamir Selamat well get to play in their first major tournament.
"Ideally, I wanted a senior goalkeeper to instill confidence in the defence and guide the squad. But Farizal (Marlias) had facial surgery and is lacking match fitness while Sharbinee (Allawee Ramli) injured his shoulder.
"We have China and Japan in our group, and without six key players it is going to be very difficult. There is no target but what is important is for the team to play well.
"I cannot accept it if we don't play well," said Rajagobal, who was only able to name nine players from the victorious 2009 Sea Games squad.
Malaysia open their Group A campaign against Kyrgyzstan on Monday before meeting Japan (Nov 10) and China (Nov 13).
The squad -- Goalkeepers: Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Zamir Selamat; Defenders: Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (capt), Muslim Ahmad, Mahalli Jasuli, Fadhli Shas, Asraruddin Putra Omar, Fandi Othman, Faizal Muhammad; Midfielders: Safiq Rahim, K. Gurusamy, Amar Rohidan, Faizal Abu Bakar, S. Kunanlan, Gary Steven Robat, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri; Strikers: Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Izzaq Faris Ramlan, S. Chanturu, Ahmad Fakri Saarani.
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