Injury list growing for Malaysia

A TSUNAMI of injuries has hit the national Under-23 squad with team when nine core players were ruled out for the Guangzhou Asian Games.
Top choice goalkeepers Sharbinee Allawee and Farizal Marlias together with the Radzak twins, Aidil and Zaquan, are among the players injured.
Sharbinee, the first choice keeper, dislocated his shoulder recently while teammate Farizal is recovering from a facial injury.

The Radzak twins are suffering from knee problems.

Others on the injured list are Azmi Muslim, Baddrol Bakhtiar, Mat Sabre Abu, Gary Steven Robbat and Bunyamin Omar.

In addition, strikers Ahmad Fakri Saarani and Fandi Othman are also recovering from minor injuries.
Seven of the injured those featured prominently for the national Under-23 squad who emerged as the champions at last year’s Laos Sea Games.

Most picked up their of them suffered injuries while playing for their teams in the recent Malaysia Cup.
With the growing injury list, The injuries mean national coach K. Rajagobal will now only have only 21 available players to choose from for the Asian Games.

The FA of Malaysia (FAM) cannot call up replacements as they have already submitted the provisional list of 30 players to the Games organisers.

“What can I to do? I can’t replace any of the injured players. because of the deadline. It is a huge setback,” as many of my core players are injured,” said Rajagobal yesterday.

“I am in a difficult situation as I did not expect this. With so many injuries, It will be tough in Guangzhou but However, we are not giving up hope.

“I have told the my remaining players who are fit to give their best shot in the Asian Games. I am hoping for the best.”

Rajagobal is expected to name his squad after today’s friendly match against the Maldives. today.
The squad team leave on Friday.

At the Asian Games, Malaysia will open their Group A campaign against Kyrgystan on Monday (Nov 8) before taking on followed by Japan two days later and hosts China on Nov 13.


Read more:NST/