For the good of the player football’s hot property Safawi Rasid has been dropped from the SEA Games by National Under-22 head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee.
“It was a difficult decision to make but it is for the good of all parties, taking into consideration the important assignments the national senior team has next year,” said Kim Swee during a training session in Subang Jaya on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the 22-year-old Dungun-born Safawi, who was named the 2019 Most Valuable Player (MPV) in the recent national football awards, fired a brace in Malaysia’s 2-0 victory over Indonesia in a Group G World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifier at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
“For the good of everyone I have decided to rest Safawi as he has played too many matches for his club (JDT) and the national team. I have decided to drop him from the SEA Games training squad,” said Kim Swee.
Meanwhile, Kim Swee was delighted when “senior” players from Tan Cheng Hoe’s senior squad reported for training with the SEA Games squad.
They are Haziq Nadzli, Adam Nor Azlin, Syamer Kutty Abba, Dominic Tan, Akhyar Rashid, and Daniel Amier Niorhisham. This gives Kim Swee more options before he names his final 20-man squad for the trip to Manila. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
