Lanky striker Izzaq Faris Ramlan hopes Malaysia can steal a valuable point against mighty Japan in their opening Asian Zone Olympic final round qualifying match in Fukuoka on Sept 21.
The 21-year-old Harimau Muda A striker admitted, however, that it would be a tall order for Malaysia to nick a point off the Asian No. 1.
“We know their strength ... and it will truly be a well-deserved point if we can hold them to a draw,” said Izzaq after the national Under-23 squad resumed training at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya on Thursday.
Malaysia are in Group C with Japan, Bahrain and Syria in the final round of the Asian Zone qualifiers. After Japan, Malaysia will face Syria (Nov 23) and Bahrain (Nov 27) at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Izzaq last played against Japan with the national Under-23 side at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2009.
“I was a rookie then. But it was a great experience for me to face the fleet-footed Japanese team. Our regular strikers (Ahmad Fakri Saarani and S. Chanturu) were down with injuries and that gave me the break. Japan were fast on the breaks and menacing inside the box. We had trouble containing them. I played the full 90 minutes and, although we lost 0-2, we played to the best of our ability,” said Izzaq.
Japan went on to emerge champions in the Asiad that year and it is believed that a majority of the players are now with the Olympic squad.
Izzaq also said that he “is wiser from my playing experience with the national Under-23 squad and also from the recent five-week playing stint in Slovakia”.
“I was nervous back in 2009. But now I am better prepared and am looking forward to facing Japan and the other teams. Our preparations have gone well and we hope to raise the bar for Malaysian football. It will take time but we are prepared to work hard for it,” said Izzaq.
National Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee, who also handles the Harimau Muda A team, has been given the mandate to take charge of the Olympic qualifiers and SEA Games in Indonesia (from Nov 7-22).
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