PETALING JAYA: National football team manager Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said criticism hurled against the team had only hardened the players’ resolve as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers Group D match against Bahrain on Oct 15.
The latest 5-0 drubbing by J-League Division Two outfit Tokyo Verdy last Wednesday during the playing tour of Japan, drew flak from all quarters.
Earlier during the tour, Malaysia lost to two J-League Division One sides, Shimizu S-Pulse (2-0) and Shonan Bellmare (5-0).
Some ex-internationals and former national coaches have been harsh in their criticisms of the national team and coach Datuk K. Rajagopal.
The team played 13 international matches (competition and friendlies) this year and lost 10.
Subahan said that the national team will soldier on with the task in hand and all the criticisms and brickbats are part and parcel of the game but admitted he was taken aback by the attacks.
Malaysia re-ignited their hopes of qualifying for the Asian Cup in 2015 by edging Yemen 2-1 in March. They are third in the group, also comprising leaders Bahrain and second-placed Qatar, with three points from two matches.
“It’s quite surprising that our harshest critics are former national players and coaches ... they have been with the national team before and couldn’t do much to improve the standard then,” said a dejected Subahan.
“It’s not only now that our football standard is going down. Our football had long been in the doldrums before we won the SEA Games gold medal and the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2010.
“We are working hard to raise our standard but people have to realise that it is not an overnight process.”
The 48-year-old Subahan also added that the players for the friendly match against Spanish giants Barcelona at the National Stadium on Aug 10 will be announced today.
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