PETALING JAYA, April 5 – National football head coach, Tan Cheng Hoe is never one to buckle under pressure but he will get a longer period for the squad’s second phase of centralised training in preparation for the Group G matches in the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 qualifiers in June.
The Malaysian Football League (MFL) has made changes to the Super League and Premier League matches during the fasting month (Ramadan) to accommodate Cheng Hoe’s request as it is a national interest.
MFL supremo, Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan has announced that there will be five Super League matches during the Holy Month instead of the original two and four in the Premier League.
Cheng Hoe also revealed that for the second phase of national training, Australian-based Liridon Krasniqi (who is on loan to Newcastle Jets in the Australian League), will be called up.
Krasniqi is with seven-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Takzim.
The Australian League will also be on break during the second phase of Harimau Malaya’s centralised training.
With injured Mohamadou Sumareh and Safawi Rasid (both JDT) having recovered from injuries, Cheng Hoe is keeping his fingers crossed that none of the national trainees will pick up injuries while playing for their respective clubs in the M-League.Malaysia’s remaining Group G matches will be played in UAE in June on a carnival basis.
Malaysia plays UAE on June 3, Vietnam on June 11, and completes their fixtures against Thailand on June 15.
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