PETALING JAYA: The national football team will commence work for the qualifying rounds of the 2014 World Cup Finals next month.
Coach K. Rajagopal has called up 24 players for the first phase of centralised training scheduled for Feb 2-10 at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya.
The team are set to play their first game of the year against Hong Kong in a friendly match at the KL Football Stadium in Cheras on Feb 9.
“We hope the we will get to play an international match at least once a month. We need to have continuity throughout the year to give me the opportunity to gauge my boys from time to time,” said Rajagopal.
Last month, Malaysia won the Asean Football Federation (AFF) championship title for the first time since the biennial tournament was introduced in 1996.
Rajagopal, who was in charge of the Harimau Muda squad since they were formed two years ago, has again opted for a young set of players.
There are six players from the Harimau Muda A (national Under-21) team, who will play in the Super League beginning on Jan 29. They are midfielder K. Gurusamy, striker Izzaq Faris Ramlan and defenders Mahali Jasuli, Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Fadhli Shas and Mohd Faizal Mohd.
Players who also starred in the AFF tournament for the Suzuki Cup also won their places.
They are strikers Mohd Safee Sali and Norsharul Idlan Talaha and midfielders Safiq Rahim, Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal, Amar Rohidan, S. Kunalan and Mohd Ashaari Shamsuddin.
Goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, who was outstanding in the AFF tournament, will vie for the No. 1 jersey with seniors Mohd Farizal Marlias and Mohd Sharbinee Allawee.
Making a return from injuries are strikers S. Chanturu, Ahmad Fakri Saarani and centreback Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak.
The surprise inclusion is lanky G. Mahathevan, who was dropped from the national Under-23 squad for the 2009 SEA Games. Malaysia also emerged as the champions in the Laos Games.
No comments:
Post a Comment