No more replacement for Maloney’s team after Shafi tests positive

PETALING JAYA: One after another.

The national Under-23 football team suffered another misfortune as striker Shafi Azswad Sapari, who was called up to replace a player who tested positive for Covid-19, has also been infected.

Ahead of the AFF Under-23 championship fixture against Myanmar today, head coach Brad Maloney confirmed that defender Shafi’s PCR test upon arrival at the Phnom Penh International Airport yesterday, returned positive.

“The PCR test before departure from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was negative, but he was positive in a test upon arrival here. The registration (of players) closed yesterday, so we have to continue the campaign with 27 players,” he said in a virtual press conference yesterday.

Shafi of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) II was called up to replace Fahmi Daniel Zaaim, who tested positive upon the team’s arrival in Phnom Penh on Friday.

Previously, Maloney had to drop Mohd Safwan Mazlan from the squad after the former was infected by the virus during the centralised training camp in Petaling Jaya.

Maloney was extremely disappointed with the situation.

“I feel for the boys, they are here to represent the nation but will be under quarantine instead. A player here needs to quarantine for seven days and will only be released to join the team 48 hours after being tested negative in a subsequent PCR test.’’

Meanwhile, on the team’s match-up against Myanmar today, Maloney remained cautious although their opponents’ coach Velizar Popov stated that they have assembled a weakened team.

“I still see Myanmar as the favourites. They have five players who played in the AFF Suzuki Cup last year and several boys who played in the 2019 SEA Games,” he said.

“I am here to give several new players international exposure. We will remain competitive, but my main aim is to test new players before we decide on a squad for the AFC Under-23 Championship in June.”