PETALING JAYA, Nov 29 – National football head coach Tan Cheng Hoe still has time to decide on his final 24-player squad for next month’s AFF Suzuki Cup in Singapore but is keeping his fingers crossed that there won’t be anymore injuries.
The former international is concerned with injuries after he lost Darren Lok with abdominal muscle injury during training just when the Petaling Jaya City FC striker was coming on fine after a long layoff from injury.
Çheng Hoe also revealed that he will not call up a replacement for Darren as he still has enough material at his disposal although players from Malaysia Cup finalists Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) and Kuala Lumpur City FC will only report for training on Dec 1 – a day after the final is played at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
”I pray that there will not be anymore injuries from the squad that is already in training and also those from JDT and KL,” said Cheng Hoe after Sunday’s training session.Malaysia is drawn in Group B wit defending champions Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia and Laos. The Group B matches will be played at the Bishan Stadium. The Harimau Malaya face Cambodia in their opening match on Dec 6.
The second match is against Laos on Dec 9, followed by Vietnam (Dec 12) and complete their group fixtures against Indonesian on Dec 19.
”It is a pity that Darren is out. He was playing well for his club, especially in the Malaysia Cup and that was why he earned a national call up. I hope there won’t be anymore injuries as we are racing against time,” said Cheng Hoe.
Cheng Hoe has dropped some of the big names for the AFF Suzuki Cup. Among those not in the list are JDT goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, defenders Matthew Davies (right back), Cobin Ong (left back) and midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba.
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