Nov 7, 2011
By ERIC SAMUEL
The Star
JAKARTA: From defending champions to also-rans in their very first match. That is the unenviable prospect Malaysia face in their opening Group A tie of the SEA Games Under-23 football competition at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan today.
Singapore are the potential banana skin that Malaysia must avoid slipping on if they are to keep their hopes alive as they negotiate a safe passage through their treacherous Group of Death.
That means anything less than three points will not be enough for their title defence as they then have to outpunch heavyweights Thailand and Indonesia as well as unpredictable Cambodia in their remaining matches.
As only the top two teams advance to the semifinals, Malaysia must deliver knockout blows to perceived lesser opponents Singapore and Cambodia and then hope to hold their own against Thailand and Indonesia. Trouble is, Singapore and Cambodia are not exactly pushovers.
This is the moment of truth for coach Ong Kim Swee who has had ample time to get the chemistry of the team right. The players have had plenty of exposure in the last couple of years with the Harimau Muda A (Under-21) and B squads (Under-19) leading up to the SEA Games.
“It’s time for the boys to show their character and live up to expectations.
“There is no excuse for them not to deliver,” said Kim Swee.
He has six players from the triumphant 2009 team while the rest are from the Harimau Muda squad which played in the Super League this season.
There were also a couple of stints training and playing in Slovakia.
Even then, the present squad are not of the same calibre as the team Datuk K. Rajagopal transformed into unlikely champions in Vientiane 2009.
Then, the team had been inspired by the heroics of striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, midfielders Safiq Rahim, Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal, S. Kunalan and twins Mohd Aidil Zafuan and Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak.
Kim Swee will be counting on the seasoned hands of 2009, led by skipper Baddrol Bakhtiar and fellow midfielders K. Gurusamy, Fakri Saarani, and defenders Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar, Mahalli Jasuli and Mohd Muslim Ahmad to play a pivotal role in Jakarta.
Malaysia have a sound defence with Khairul Fahmi Che Mat a solid presence in goal and reliable centrebacks Muslim and Fadhli and left back Asraruddin.
Teenager Mohd Fandi Othman’s inexperience makes him vulnerable at right back but he expected to hold his own.
Leading the attack are 18-year-old Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim and Izzaq Faris Ramlan, 20. Fakri will lead from the left with Baddrol on the right. Gurusamy and Mohd Irfan Fazail will orchestrate play from midfield in the absence of the injured Gary Steven Robbat.
Singapore are not to be taken lightly as they have seven players from the national senior team as well as their naturalised football mercenaries.
The keen rivalry between the two neighbours always brings old emotions to the fore and today’s clash will be no exception.
There is nothing the Lions relish more than feeding on their Malaysian rivals.
There was great rejoicing when Singapore ended Malaysia’s pre-World Cup campaign a couple of months ago and they will be looking for a repeat performance today.
Heavy indeed is the head that wears the crown but are Malaysia ready to abdicate this early in the contest, and that too against the old enemy?
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