Football
Nicolas Anil 8y

Malaysia name new-look squad to face Singapore in Causeway Challenge

Defensive solidity will be Datuk Ong Kim Swee's rallying cry after the Malaysia coach named his 25-man squad to face Singapore next month.

Harimau Malaysia will play their Causeway rivals at the Singapore National Stadium on Oct. 7, and Afghanistan on Oct. 11, as they look for their best squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup in November.

Kim Swee also set the team's centralised training for Sept. 27 to work on defensive drills in the wake of Malaysia's 3-0 thrashing by Indonesia in a friendly in Solo on Sept. 6.

"The 12 players in my team, not involved in Malaysia Cup and AFC Cup duties, are mostly in defensive positions. This gives me an opportunity to focus on that department, and when the remaining 13 players report for duty, I can lay out our tactics," said Kim Swee, who has called on eight outright defenders for the friendlies.

They include Perak duo Nazirul Naim, Shahrul Saad, Pahang's Matthew Davies and the Johor Darul Ta'zim duo of Fadhli Shas and Azrif Nasrulhaq.

Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee, of Melaka United, and Kedah's Rizal Ghazali are the other two defenders, and among the new faces to the squad.

In-form Perak midfielder Fazrul Hazli, alongside Felda United winger Hadin Azman, are the others who could make their senior debuts after impressive performances for their teams this season.

The duo are tied as the highest local scorers, with six goals each.

Kedah midfielder Syazwan Zainon is the other new addition, completing Kim Swee's squad, who are desperate to find their footing and make amends before the regional tournament, which they won in 2010.

In calling five new faces, Kim Swee omitted Kelantan midfielders Wan Zack Haikal, and an injured Brendan Gan, together with Johor Darul Ta'zim II midfielder Amer Saidin, and Ahmad Khuzaimi's teammate Khair Jones.

"I dropped some of the players to give others an opportunity, as this is my final centralised training before I name the squad for the AFF Cup."

Despite the poor loss to Indonesia, Kim Swee's side still surged up nine spots in the FIFA rankings last week to sit three rungs below Singapore in 158th ahead of the showcase match at the Singapore National Stadium.

Malaysia squad to face Singapore and Afghanistan:

Shahrul Saad, Nazirul Naim, Hafizul Hakim, Fazrul Hazli, Irfan Fazail, Zaquan Adha, Fakri Saarani, Hadin Azman, Khairul Fahmi, Ronny Harun, Matthew Davies, Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee, Baddrol Bakhtiar, Rizal Ghazali, Syazwan Zainon, Abdul Latiff Suhaimi, Fakrul Aiman, Khairul Azhan, Hazwan Bakri, S. Veenod, Adam Nor Azlin, Fadhli Shas, Amri Yahyah, Azrif Nasrulhaq, Safawi Rasid

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