Depleted Harimau to take on the world

Floored: Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim sidelined by an ankle injury.

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia are down to just 16 men for the World University Games (Univer­siade) football competition, which kicks off in Kazan, Russia, on Friday.

The depleted Harimau Muda A squad, based in Slovakia, took a further blow prior to their departure from Vienna yesterday when two more players were ruled out from the original list of 18 players named for the Games. 

Striker Syahrul Azwari Ibrahim has been floored by an ankle injury while midfielder Mohd Ariff Farhan Isa’s name was not registered.

National Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee was allowed to register a maximum of 20 players. He had requested for eight players from the M-League but only two were released –  K. Reuben (Armed Forces) and K. Praba­karan (Sime Darby). 

Defender Nazirul Naim Che Hashim is also available after being released by his club FC Ryukyu, a Japanese Third Division side.

Kim Swee is now praying that his team will be injury free in the 12-day Games. The hardest department hit is the forward-line as he has only two strikers – A. Thamil Arasu and Ahmad Hazwan Bakri.

Kim Swee, who is preparing the team for the defence of the SEA Games gold in Myanmar in December, said he would have to make do with the players available.

“There’s nothing much I can do since the clubs have the right to reject the call-ups,” said Kim Swee.

“It’s not a problem for me. I will prepare for the tournament with the players available. My concern is to avoid fatigue and keep the players injury free before the competition starts.

“The Universiade is a good chance for us to play in a competition environment but sadly we cannot maximise the opportunity to try out various combinations.”

Malaysia open their Group C campaign against Italy on Friday. The others in the group are Britain, Italy and Algeria. 

Group A comprises Russia, China, Mexico and Ireland; Group B has Japan, Uruguay, Ukraine and Turkey and Group D consists of Brazil, Canada, France and Peru.

Malaysia, finished 12th out of 16 teams in the last Games in Shenzhen in 2011.

The squad
Goalkeeper: Farhan Abu Bakar, Izham Tarmizi Roslan
Defenders: Shahrul Saad, Mohd Fadhli Shas, Wan Ahmad Amirzafran Wan Nadris, Saiful Ridzuwan Selamat, Nazirul Naim Che Hashim. K. Reuben,  K. Prabakaran
Midfielders: D. Saarvindran, Irfan Fazail, Wan Zaharulnizam Wan Zakaria, Ferris Danial Mat Nasir, D. Kenny Pallraj.
Strikers: A. Thamil Arasu, Ahmad Hazwan Bakri.