Cheng Hoe values experience as Malaysia prepare for WC qualifiers

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia coach Tan Cheng Hoe is banking on experienced hands for the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign next month.

Cheng Hoe has included only three uncapped players in his 26-player training squad to face Timor Leste in the first qualifying round in a two-leg fixture on June 7 and 11 in Kuala Lumpur.

The uncapped trio are defenders Rodney Akwensivie of PKNS and Johor Darul Ta’zim pair La’Vere Corbin-Ong and Dominic Tan while the rest have featured for Harimau Malaya in the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup and the Airmarine Cup in March.

The team will report for centralised training on May 27.

They will take on Nepal in a warm-up match on June 2 before playing Timor Leste in the double header at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

Cheng Hoe is confident about getting a positive result from the squad.

“These qualifiers are the most crucial matches for us now and I want all the players to realise the importance of these matches and give their full commitment despite the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations,” said Cheng Hoe.

“Despite having some old faces returning to the team, we need time to get all the players to be on the same page.

“It won’t be easy to achieve this in a short period of time and during the fasting month.

“The match against Nepal will be crucial in gauging their performance and I hope the players can show their abilities.”

 

THE TRAINEE SQUAD

Goalkeeper: Farizal Marlias (JDT), Hafizul Hakim (Perak), Ifwat Akmal (Kedah).

Defenders: Adam Nor Azlin, La’Vere Corbin-Ong, Dominic Tan, Syazwan Andik (JDT); Matthew Davies (Pahang), Syahmi Safari (Selangor), Shahrul Saad (Perak), Rodney Akwensivie (PKNS), Irfan Zakaria (Kuala Lumpur).

Midfielders: Akram Mahinan (PKNS), Kenny Pallraj (Perak), Halim Saari (Selangor), Faiz Nasir (Selangor), Syamer Kutty Abba (JDT), Nor Azam Azih (Pahang).

Forwards: Akhyar Rashid, Safawi Rasid, Syafiq Ahmad (JDT); Mohamadou Sumareh, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Faisal Halim (Pahang); Syazwan Zainon (Selangor), Shahrel Fikri (Perak).