FAM

Mix squad for Asian Indoors

23rd Oct 2007

With several regulars on the crock list, national Futsal coach P. Balakrishnan has little choice but to rely on a mix squad for the
2nd Asian Indoor Games which kick off this week in Macau.
For the games, Malaysia have been placed in a tough Group A against hosts Macau, Asean champions Thailand and Afghanistan which will play all their matches at the IPM Multisport Pavilion.

Balakrishnan explained that the mixture of seniors and junior players is unavoidable due to injuries to Saiful Mohd Nor, Fairuz Karnim, Mohd Phua Yusof and Zaidi Zulkifli among others.

"It is a bit of a disappointment as the Indoor Games is one of the venues which we hope that we could use to build a stronger team for the SEA Games," said Balakrishnan.

"But it is at times like these that the youngsters will just have to raise the level of their game to make sure that we can be competitive in Macau."

Prior to Macau, the team had recently returned from a playing tour to
Jakarta where they won one match, lost twice and drew once.

They opened their campaign with two matches against club sides - a 1-2 loss to Biang Bola before reviving to beat TNI 4-2.

They then lost narrowly to the Indonesia national team 2-3 only to complete their tour with a 2-2 draw against the same side a day later.

"There's improvement for sure but in Macau, we will be up against Thailand which we all know have been the kings of Asean Futsal for the last several years," added Balakrishnan.

"The other two matches in the group will be anybody's game.