KUALA LUMPUR: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) President Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah wants fans and supporters of the National team to give newly appointed National coach Dollah Salleh a chance to prove his worth.
Tengku Abdullah said the match against Tajikistan was Dollah’s first international match since his appointment as the National coach, replacing Datuk K Rajagobal whose contract was not extended by the FAM.
“We must give Dollah some time to mould the squad and not make assumptions.
Even I have yet to meet the National squad and Dollah together but I hope given time, the National squad can achieve better results,” he told reporters after chairing the Malaysian Hockey Confederation’s (MHC) emergency meeting, here yesterday.
The National squad under Dollah, lost 1-4 to Tajikistan during an international friendly match at the Central Stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on Friday.
The National squad which is preparing for the Asean Football Federation’s (AFF Suzuki Cup) are expected to play another international friendly against Jordan on Oct 11, at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
In the AFF Suzuki Cup competition hosted by Singapore and Vietnam from Nov 22 to Dec 20, Malaysia, drawn in Group B, with defending champion Singapore, three-time winner Thailand and a yet to be decided team that will play in a qualifier.
Speaking of Malaysia’s tough draw, labelled as the group of death, Tengku Abdullah said in fact both groups either Group A or B, were tough.
“I feel both groups are tough…in Group B, the Philippines is a favourite, Indonesia cannot be discounted because they have a better programme now and Myanmar has shown good achievement. So, there are no weak teams in the competition,” he said.
Meanwhile, the AFF Suzuki Cup Qualifier would be hosted by Laos from Oct 12 to 20 and involve Laos, Myanmar, Brunei, Timor Leste and Cambodia. — Bernama