Six newcomers join Olympic squad for friendlies in Australia

The national Under-23 football squad re­­sumed training at Wisma FA in Kelana Jaya on a sad note following news of the death of skipper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat’s younger brother.

Goalkeeper Khairul has been given a few days off by coach Ong Kim Swee to mourn the loss of his 16-year-old brother Mohd Amirul Izzat after a bout of high fever.

Kim Swee is preparing the side for a tour of Australia, where they will play A-League sides Sydney FC (Dec 13), Central Coast Mariners (Dec 15) and Newcastle Jets (Dec 19). The squad leave for Australia on Saturday.

Kim Swee, who has roped in six newcomers for the centralised training, said three players would be dropped from final squad for the trip Down Under.

He said he would use the tour to give some of the fringe players a chance to show their worth.
“We have a couple of players who rarely get a chance to prove themselves,” said Kim Swee yesterday.

“Quality matches against these A-League sides will enable me to evaluate them better. We will be taking 33 players and there are still a few more days before we finalise the squad.”

Midfielders Gary Steven Robbat, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria are definitely out of the trip with hamstring injuries while Abdul Shukor Jusoh and Irfan Fazail are also doubtful.

As such, the six new faces – S. Sivanesan, Nazirul Naim Che Hashim, Mohd Ferris Danial Mat Nasir, Shahrul Saad, Nur Areff Kamaruddin, Mohd Farhan Abu Bakar – are expected to make the trip.

The tour Down Under is to help prepare the team for their remaining Asian Zone Olympic qualifiers against Bahrain at the Bahrain National Stadium on Feb 5, Syria at the Prince Mohammed Stadium on Feb 22 and Japan at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on March 14.

The training squad
Mohd Izuan Solahuddin, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Nik Mohd Syahrul Azim, Syazwan Yusof, Mohd Zubir Mohd Azmi, Sharil Saari, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri, Ahmad Fakri Saarani, Gary Steven Robbat, Mohd Affize Faisal, Wan Zack Haikal Wan Noor, Abdul Shukor Jusoh, K. Gurusamy, Mahalli Jasuli, Mohd Amer Saidin, Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mohd Fadhli Mohd Shas, Mohd Fandi Othman, Mohd Irfan Fazail, Mohd Izham Tarmizi, Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim, A. Thamil Arasu, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria, Mohd Nazmi Faiz Mansor, D. Saarvindran, Mohd Syazwan Tajuddin, Mohd Azizan Nordin, Mohd Akmal Ishak, Mohd Azrif Nasrulhaq, K. Reuben, S. Sivanesan, Nazirul Naim Che Hashim, Mohd Ferris Danial Mat Nasir, Shahrul Saad, Nur Areff Kamaruddin, Mohd Farhan Abu Bakar.