SEA Games squad suffers a setback as key players injured

The Malaysian football team suffered a huge blow when playmaker Gary Steven Robbat and attacking midfielder Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor were ruled out of the Indonesia SEA Games. 

National Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee said the duo were advised to skip the Games to recover from their injuries. 

Gary aggravated his hamstring injury while training and will be out for three weeks while Wan Zack, who hurt his ankle during the Asian Zone final round qualifying match against Japan in Fukuoka two months ago, has not fully recovered. 

“We sent both of them for a final check-up before we finalised the 20-man squad. There is nothing we can do because Gary is still troubled by his hamstring injury and Wan Zack will only be fit in a couple of weeks,” a disappointed Kim Swee said yesterday. 

And, in a desperate move, Kim Swee has called up 19-year-old Mohd Nazmi Faiz to replace Gary. 

Nazmi is currently in Hanoi for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-19 championships. 

“It is a desperate move because we have a hole in midfield following Gary’s loss. Nazmi was with me when we were in Slovakia. He is the best replacement for now.  

“In fact, he and Gary have a similar style of play,” said Kim Swee.  

The other central midfielders in the squad are K. Gurusamy, Abdul Shukor Jusoh, Mohd Irfan Fazail and newcomer Mohd Nazmi. 

But it not all bad news for Kim Swee as Gary and Wan Zack should be ready for the Asian Zone final round qualifying campaign for the 2012 London Olympics later this month.  

Malaysia are scheduled to play Syria and Bahrain at home on Nov 23 and Nov 27 respectively.  
Malaysia lost their opening game 2-0 to Japan in September.