Injury-hit Malaysia face uphill task against favourites Japan

HAVING struggled to overcome Kyr­gy­z­stan on Mon­day, coach K. Rajagopal’s boys are on a hiding to nothing when they face favourites Japan in their Group A match of the Asian Games Under-23 football competition at the Huadu Stadium in Guangzhou today (4pm).

While Malaysia were huffing and puffing their way to a slim 2-1 over Kyrgyzstan, the fleet-footed Japanese team humbled hosts China 3-0 on Monday.

And Rajagopal is fully aware of the mammoth task ahead for his boys, especially after the physically taxing game against Kyrgyzstan left him with two more players – skipper Norhafiz Zamani Misbah and striker Ahmad Fakri Saarani – on the crock list.

“Our game against Asian giants Japan will be a huge one for us. Unfortunately, injuries have forc­ed me to make do with the limited resources in the depleted squad,” said Rajagopal, who arrived here without nine key players from the team who won the Laos SEA Games gold medal last year.

However, Rajagopal is expected to come up with a game plan to keep the score down in their bid to qualify for the round of 16.
Malaysia will wrap up their Group A fixtures against hosts China on Saturday.


The top two teams from the six groups and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the second round.
Rajagopal said he would be relying on the Harimau Muda A (national Under-21) boys to make up for the loss of Norhafiz and Fakri.

Mohd Fadli Shas and teenager Mohd Fandi Othman are expected to replace centreback Norhafiz and Fakri.
But the one player who will be fully tested today will surely be rookie goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat.
“I did not expect to become the No. 1 in my first year with the national team. It is all happening so fast for me ... I will be facing the No. 2 ranked team in Asia,” said Khairul, who has had a fantastic season this year.
The Kelantan custodian helped his team beat Negri Sembilan 2-1 in the Malaysia Cup final.

Star