KUNSHAN, China: A difficult situation is about to give national Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee a headache as a few key players are bogged down by injury woes in the run up to their make-or-break, final group C match against Saudi Arabia in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Championship at the Kunshan Stadium tomorrow (Tuesday).
Malaysia’s leading scorer with two goals, Johor Darul Ta’zim forward Safawi Rasid is suffering from a muscle strain, while another forward, Akhyar Abdul Rashid is nursing a knee injury while Dominic Tan is carrying a thigh injury.
While two other players are down with fever, Syamer Kutty Abba and Syahmi Safari.
However, despite hoping against all odd that all five players will be able to recover in time, Kim Swee is ready to make the necessary changes to his first team if left with no other choice.
"At this point in time, I still cannot ascertain if our players who are carrying injuries such as Dominic, Safawi and Akhyar will be able to play or not against the Saudis, it all depends if they can pass late fitness tests tomorrow (Tuesday) before the match.
"There no cause for much concern because we have other players here, as all 23 players who make up the team can take on the responsibility if called upon,” he said when met after training at the Kunshan Civic Activity Arena here earlier today.
Kim Swee made it clear that the other forwards in the team, Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak and R. Kogileswaran have what it takes to play upfront in the event Safawi and Akhyar are unable to play.
At first Malaysia were not given much of a chance to qualify for the quarter-finals in their first appearance at the championship, but after an impressive performance in the second match against Jordan where they managed a 1-1 draw, if they can pull off an upset and beat 2013 runners-up Saudi Arabia, and 2013 champions Iraq beat Jordan, then history will be made as no Southeast Asian nation has made it past the group stage.
The players were not able to have a feel of the Kunshan Stadium Pitch during training earlier today, but Kim Swee does not see it as a hindrance to their preparations.
In fact, he does not want to think too much about making history after guiding the team to a silver medal at last year’s Kuala Lumpur Sea Games, and winning gold seven years ago at the 2011 Jakarta Sea Games.
"I do not want to touch about history, I just want the players to play with passion and determination like how they did against Jordan. I believe with a high level of focus and discipline we can qualify for the quarter-finals,” stressed Kim Swee.