KUALA LUMPUR: Former national youth coach Hassan Sazali Waras believes the Sea Games-bound side have the quality to end Malaysia's 12-year title drought at the Phnom Penh edition in May.
The Young Tigers have won the Sea Games football title on six occasions, with the last recorded gold medal achieved at the 2011 Jakarta edition under coach Ong Kim Swee.
"The current players have quality, but they still have to fix several weaknesses. I believe E. Elavarasan's side team will become formidable after a few matches ahead of the Sea Games.
"I believe this team will achieve the FA of Malaysia's (FAM) target of reaching the final. If everything goes well, they will win the title.
Elavarasan's side defeated Cambodia 4-2 in the Merlion Cup in Singapore on Friday. They took on Hong Kong, who edged Singapore 1-0, in a late final today.
"It was a positive result against Cambodia, and it will help the players gain confidence for bigger matches.
"Elavarasan is a great tactician, and the players are responding well to his strategies.
"Players like Haiqal Haqeemi Hairi, Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili and Najmudin Akmal Kamal Akmal have a good future ahead of them."
Hassan added: "Malaysia have many quality youth players, and Elavarasan will face no problems getting the best out of them."
At last year's edition in Hanoi, Malaysia failed to return with a medal. Malaysia last won a medal at the 2017 KL edition when they took silver after losing 1-0 to Thailand in the final.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
from New Straits Times https://ift.tt/L7R1d38
0 Comments