Malaysian Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee has been handed a one-match suspension for being sent off during Malaysia’s 1-0 win over Indonesia in a Group A match on Thursday.
This means he will not be on the bench when Malaysia take on Myanmar in the semi-final at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan today.
Team manager Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said he had filed an appeal.
However, they are not taking any chances and have made arrangements to get walkie-talkies for the coach to communicate with his assistants, Hassan Sazali Waras and Yong Wai Hwang, from the stands.
“During the game against Indonesia we were fortunate to have a walkie-talkie which the team physiotherapist, Mohd Nasrul Tajuddin, uses for matches. This time we intend to get a better set with the help of the Malaysian Embassy here,” said Kim Swee.
He said the players were mature enough to know what their duties were and to carry it out accordingly without him on the bench.
But Kim Swee did say that “it would be better for me to be there to guide them”.
“It is normal for me to stand in the technical box for most of the match. This is important because I can pass on instructions from time to time,” said Kim Swee.
Meanwhile, Kim Swee revealed that the players were ferried back to the team hotel in two armoured vehicles (Barracudas) after the match against Indonesia on Thursday, which was played in front of a sellout 100,000 crowd.
Kim Swee said the last-minute decision was for security reasons and that the 20 players and five officials were crammed into two Barracudas for the short trip back to the hotel.
“I hope the worst is over,” said Kim Swee.
Certainly not, if Malaysia meet Indonesia again in the final.
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