Coach confirms U.23 Malaysia's difficult situation, U.23 Vietnam wins Laos to secure semi-final ticket

Coach Nafuzi Zain of the U.23 Malaysia team confirmed that he currently has only 16 players and has not yet finalized the list of players for the 33rd SEA Games. This development creates favorable conditions for the U.23 Vietnam team before the opening match against the Laos team.

U.23 Malaysia is in too much trouble. If they beat Laos, U.23 Vietnam will soon secure a ticket to the semi-finals.

By the morning of December 3, coach Nafuzi Zain said that he would wait until the deadline for registering the list of players competing at the 33rd SEA Games to announce the U.23 Malaysia squad. The reason is, "the registration list cannot be changed at this time unless there is an official injury". In particular, this military leader is waiting for sympathy from clubs in the Malaysian Super League to agree to release "registered" players, so that they can participate in the 33rd SEA Games.

The Vietnam U.23 team confidently awaits the opening match of the 33rd SEA Games against Laos on December 3, while the opponent, Malaysia U.23, is extremely confused in terms of force.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

"In terms of preparation, we are definitely affected. Right now, I only have 16 players training because the others are still at their clubs. It is a huge challenge for me to handle this situation, but as a coach, I cannot avoid it. We have to accept the challenge and prepare the best we can with the players we have," coach Nafuzi Zain said in an interview with Malaysian media on December 2.

According to coach Nafuzi Zain, U.23 Malaysia is currently missing players from top clubs such as Selangor, Terengganu, Penang and Sabah, due to commitments and competition schedules of these teams in domestic and international tournaments that are still ongoing.

"We are in a difficult situation because the club coaches want to use their best players. For example, Haziq (Kutty Abba) - midfielder of Penang Club - is always the one who is placed in the starting lineup. Meanwhile, Selangor allows players to be released (to join the U.23 Malaysia training camp), but if there is a match schedule of the club, they will be called back to play," Coach Nafuzi Zain explained the current difficult situation of U.23 Malaysia.

This case is similar to defender Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili (captain of U.23 Malaysia) of Terengganu Club, while he is concentrating and practicing with the team, but he will return to the club to compete in the Super League on December 5, just 1 day before the match between U.23 Malaysia and Laos (4 p.m., December 6).

Coach Nafuzi Zain of the Malaysia U.23 team

Photo: AFP

“Ubaidullah, who joined us for the training camp, may not be able to play in our first match at the 33rd SEA Games, as Terengganu FC will face Kuching City in the Super League on December 5, while our first match is against Laos a day later.

In addition, striker Fergus Tierney (of Sabah Club) is also in a situation where he has to return to the club before December 14 to play in the FA Cup final, while we will play the decisive match with U.23 Vietnam on December 11.

We have to negotiate and hope that these key players will be present at each stage with U.23 Malaysia. We may not have enough 23 players, but the whole team is determined to try our best," coach Nafuzi Zain added.

While U.23 Malaysia is in turmoil due to the internal situation of the players' gathering being hindered by the clubs, but according to the regulations, because the SEA Games is not included in the FIFA Days schedule, the U.23 Vietnam team is now stable after arriving in Bangkok and having familiarization training sessions there.

Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team are preparing to play their opening match in Group B against Laos U.23 team at 4:00 p.m. on December 3. If they win, the chance to get a ticket to the semi-finals with the top spot in the group will be in their hands.

For the remaining match, U.23 Vietnam will not compete until December 11, when they have 8 days off and are preparing to meet U.23 Malaysia, an opponent with a very weak squad and must win the match against Laos on December 6 to maintain hope.

U.23 Malaysia will be short of 2 to 3 key players in the match against Laos, and in the match against U.23 Vietnam, coach Nafuzi Zain also confirmed that it is unclear which important players he will have at that time as clubs are waiting to call players back.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-xac-nhan-the-kho-cua-u23-malaysia-u23-viet-nam-thang-lao-chac-ve-ban-ket-185251203110801621.htm