HANOI: Versatile S. Kunalan has no problem playing in any position for national coach Dollah Salleh.
The nippy winger is expected to be moved to the rightback position in their must-win match against Vietnam in the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final second leg match at the My Dinh National Stadium on Thursday.
Dollah opted to move Kunalan to shore up the defence as regular rightback Mahali Jasuli had a woeful outing in the 2-1 defeat to Vietnam in the first leg at the Shah Alam Stadium last Sunday.
Kunalan last played as rightback under Dollah in the 4-1 friendly win over Cambodia on Sept 20.
The 28-year-old said having skipper Mohd Shukor Adan beside him in the backline will make it easier for him.
“I have played as a rightback several times with my clubs and the national team before so I don’t think I will have problems changing my playing style,” said Kunalan.
“Shukor’s return to the team after serving his suspension is a massive boost for us because he plays a commanding role on the pitch.”
Kunalan said that the odds are heavily against them to beat the hosts but they are not going to throw in the towel.
“We are in the midst of getting the right game plan right to face Vietnam ... we need a big win, it’s tougher for us now but we are not giving up,” said Kunalan who was part of the winning team in 2010.
“I don’t know what went wrong in the first leg ... the whole team just collapsed but all that is in the past now. We still have a chance of advancing to the final and we will fight all the way.”
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