National football coach Tan Cheng Hoe has picked his final squad for Malaysia’s campaign in this year’s AFF Suzuki Cup – confident that those picked will be able to “deliver” in the premier Asean football championships.
In the process, Cheng Hoe dropped three players – Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) defender Azrif Nasrulhaq Badrul Hisham and midfielders Nor Azam Azih (Pahang) and Azizan Nordin (Sabah).
“The three dropped for nagging injuries and inability to blend into the squad,” said Cheng Hoe who announced his final 23-player squad on Sunday after Malaysia’s ‘A’ international friendly against the Maldives at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.
Malaysian won the match 3-0 with goals by skipper Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak, Safawi Rasid and Gambian-born naturalized Malaysian Mohamadou Sumareh.
Nor Azam is nursing a hamstring injury while Azizan is down with an ankle injury while Azrif reportedly failed to impress and “not up to the mark” during training and the match against the Maldives.
The squad includes Akhyar Rashid (groin injury) and D. Kenny Pallraj (ankle) but are expected to recover in time for Malaysia’s opening match in the Suzuki Cup, which is against Cambodia at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Nov 8.
“The result against the Maldives was a good score but there are still areas that we need to work on. Our tendency to lose focus when in attack is a cause for concern,” said Cheng Hoe.
“However, I am impressed with the commitment and determination showed by the players. Those picked for the AFF Suzuki Cup have the rhythm to gel as a strong team.
“The defense also needs to be more alert in cutting out the opponents. There were some uncalled for mistakes at the back against the Maldives.”
Out of the 23 players, eight are from 2016 squad. They are goalkeepers Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy, defenders Shahrul Saad and Nazrul Naim Che Hashim, midfielder Syazwan Zainon and strikers Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha.
Malaysia is in Group A in the Suzuki Cup together with Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. Defending champions and five-time winners Thailand, four-time winners Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste make up Group B. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
THE MALAYSIAN SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Farizal Marlias, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Hafizul Hakim Khairul Nizam Jothy
Defenders: Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Adam Nor Azlin, Shahrul Saad, Amirul Azhan Aznan, Nazrul Naim Che Mat
Midfielders: Syameer Kutty Abba, Akram Mahinan, D. Kenny Pallraj, Safawi Rasid, Syazwan Zainon, Akhyar Rashid, Mohamadou Sumareh
Forwards: Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Syafiq Ahmad, Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Shahrel Fikri Fauzi.
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