PETALING JAYA: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has decided to cancel the ‘Pesta Bola Merdeka’ this year to concentrate on preparations for the 2014 Asian Games that starts in Incheon, South Korea on Sept 19.
FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the national Under-23 squad under Datuk Ong Kim Swee will leave to China in early September to undergo training and play friendly matches before heading to Incheon.
“We have yet to finalise which team they (National team) will play China but we are in the process of finalising,” he told reporters after introducing former international Dollah Salleh as the National coach at Wisma FAM yesterday.
Dollah who takes over from Datuk K Rajagobal will however, continue training the Police squad in the Malaysia Cup competition that starts in August before taking up the post of National coach.
The former National striker’s contract with Police expires in November.
Hamidin said the National squad under Dollah would prepare for the Asian Football Federation’s AFF Suzuki Cup, hosted by Singapore and Vietnam from Nov 22 to Dec 20.
He said a number of friendly matches have been lined up, including a match against Tajikistan on Aug 6, Jordan (Oct 11) while dates for matches against Singapore and New Zealand are being discussed.
“Malaysia Cup matches that clashed with the dates for friendly matches will be rescheduled,” he said. — Bernama