By ERIC SAMUEL
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia may have to field a team after all in the qualifying rounds of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 tournament in China from Nov 6-18.
On Wednesday, FAM secretary general Datuk Azzudin Ahmad said Malaysia would withdraw from the tournament because of the absence of eight key players, who have to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, beginning on Nov 12.
But it is learnt that the FAM are left with not much choice but to fulfil their commitment to play in the age-group tournament.
The FAM deputy president, Datuk Redzuan Tan Sri Sheikh Ahmad, who is also the team manager, said he would have a discussion with coach K. Rajagopal at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya today before making a final decision.
“We have not submitted an official letter of withdrawal to the AFC,” he said yesterday.
However, he said they were disappointed with the AFC for changing the dates for the competition, which was initially scheduled for Oct 31-Nov 11.
“Our appeal has been rejected. From what I have heard, they (AFC) changed the dates because they were unable to get match officials. This is not right and professional of them. They have to be sensitive to the affairs of the participating teams as well,” said Redzuan.
The AFC director of communications, Clare Kenny Tipton, said that they learnt of Malaysia's withdrawal from newspaper reports.
“As far as we are concerned, they (FAM) have not withdrawn,” she said.
Tipton added that the AFC had sent a reminder to the FAM that tomorrow was the deadline to submit the registration forms of players.
“Anyway, a team who withdraw from the tournament have to face the consequences. We will refer the matter to the disciplinary committee,” she said.
The national Under-19 team are in training at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya and they are scheduled to go to Singapore for a series of warm-up matches against S-League sides next month.
Rajagopal assembled the team at the beginning of the year and they had played in two international tournaments – an Under-21 championships in Brunei in March and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-19 tournament in Hanoi in August. They were the runners-up in the Asean tournament.
In the AFC qualifying tournament, Malaysia have beeen drawn in Group F with China, South Korea, Macau, Timor Leste and Singapore.
Source : The STAR
p.s : It always been our culture to put ahead studies that sports is it ?
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia may have to field a team after all in the qualifying rounds of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 tournament in China from Nov 6-18.
On Wednesday, FAM secretary general Datuk Azzudin Ahmad said Malaysia would withdraw from the tournament because of the absence of eight key players, who have to sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations, beginning on Nov 12.
But it is learnt that the FAM are left with not much choice but to fulfil their commitment to play in the age-group tournament.
The FAM deputy president, Datuk Redzuan Tan Sri Sheikh Ahmad, who is also the team manager, said he would have a discussion with coach K. Rajagopal at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya today before making a final decision.
“We have not submitted an official letter of withdrawal to the AFC,” he said yesterday.
However, he said they were disappointed with the AFC for changing the dates for the competition, which was initially scheduled for Oct 31-Nov 11.
“Our appeal has been rejected. From what I have heard, they (AFC) changed the dates because they were unable to get match officials. This is not right and professional of them. They have to be sensitive to the affairs of the participating teams as well,” said Redzuan.
The AFC director of communications, Clare Kenny Tipton, said that they learnt of Malaysia's withdrawal from newspaper reports.
“As far as we are concerned, they (FAM) have not withdrawn,” she said.
Tipton added that the AFC had sent a reminder to the FAM that tomorrow was the deadline to submit the registration forms of players.
“Anyway, a team who withdraw from the tournament have to face the consequences. We will refer the matter to the disciplinary committee,” she said.
The national Under-19 team are in training at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya and they are scheduled to go to Singapore for a series of warm-up matches against S-League sides next month.
Rajagopal assembled the team at the beginning of the year and they had played in two international tournaments – an Under-21 championships in Brunei in March and the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-19 tournament in Hanoi in August. They were the runners-up in the Asean tournament.
In the AFC qualifying tournament, Malaysia have beeen drawn in Group F with China, South Korea, Macau, Timor Leste and Singapore.
Source : The STAR
p.s : It always been our culture to put ahead studies that sports is it ?
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