Malaysian Football Team On Friendly Spree To Improve Ranking

PETALING JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), April 15 (Bernama) -- The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is embarking on a 10-match international spree after a disgusting 174th ranking in the world. This immediate action is being taken by the national football governing body after receiving heavy criticism from the public. Malaysia, which is at the lowest point of the ranking ever, had now plunged into as much as 10 Class A International Friendly matches and 129 days of national camp. According to the head coach Ong Kim Swee, the first step will start with a friendly against the 166th ranked Myanmar in Yangon on May 27 before the 2019 Asia Cup third round qualifying match against Timor Leste on June 2 and 7. Kim Swee said the national body had tried to get a few other teams, but they were committed with regional and league matches but believed Myanmar was a suitable squad to prepare the players against Timor Leste. Besides that, FAM also decided not to waste the one-month Super League and Premier League break during the Ramadhan month by playing three match series against Oceania minnows, Papua New Guinea (June 17), New Caledonia (June 22) and Fiji (June 26) in the 17-day Oceania tour. "Of course there are people asking why we are meeting three opponents who are lower ranked than us. But everyone must understand that the Harimau Malaysia squad is in the process of rebuilding confidence, the team's reputation as well as getting a winning rhythm," he said at the FAM's inaugural monthly press conference at here, Thursday. "So, I think after the playoff against Timor Leste, three friendlies against teams from Oceania are important for me to test the players and at the same time, we need a victory to improve our ranking," the 45-year-old Melaka-born coach added. During the friendlies, Kim Swee will focus on the attacking and midfielding position to enhance the goal scoring chances. Apart from that, the Harimau Malaysia squad will also host Singapore on Sept 1 as well as playing other friendlies which are due to be confirmed on Aug 28, Sept 30, Oct 10, Nov 7, 10 and 13 besides playing in the third round Asia Cup qualifying match and AFF Suzuki Cup campaign from Nov 19 till Dec 17 at the Phillipines and Myanmar. "If we lose to Timor Leste, we have to play in another playoff against Taiwan or Cambodia on Sept 6 and Oct 11," FAM Secretary-General Hamidin Mohd Amin said. Hamidin had also confirmed that the national team macthes would be held in various states around the country to give opportunity for the fans to witness the national players in action. --BERNAMA