Queries aplenty over Pan-gon’s choice of players in first selection

PETALING JAYA: It was only Kim Pan-gon’s (pic) first selection for the national team but the South Korean has already drawn many queries over his choice of players for the Harimau Malaya squad.

Pan-gon has picked 30 players for the international friendlies against the Philippines (March 23) and Singapore (March 26), and test matches against Singaporean League club Albirex Niigata in the Lion City.

But conspicuously missing from the list are in-form players like Petaling Jaya City’s S. Kumaahran, and Kuala Lumpur’s Ryan Lambert and Zhafri Yahya.

When asked about the omissions, Pan-gon just pleaded for patience and said that he would assess other players in the future.

“I understand the sentiment but I ask everyone to be patient.

‘‘I can’t select 50-60 players at one time. I picked these players based on their tactical, technical and professional backgrounds. This is not an all-star selection – this is the national team,” said Pan-gon.

“My decision is also based on my playing philosophy. I can’t say I’m 100% right but I want to maximise the potential of players who’ve played for the national team from 2019 to 2021.

“After the friendlies, I’ll try my best to monitor more talents and communicate more with the coaches in the leagues.’’

Johor Darul Ta’zim dominated the squad with 14 players, including the return of veteran midfielder Safiq Rahim, who last played in 2017 for the national team.

Selangor, Terengganu and PJ City have three players each.

Some of the new names selected are JDT midfielder Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan, Selangor centreback Sharul Nazeem Zulphakar and Terengganu goalkeeper Rahadiazli Rahalim.

Besides Safiq, the ones returning to the national fold are Negri Sembilan defender Khair Jones, JDT’s La’Vere Corbin Ong (leftback), Farizal Marlias (goalkeeper), Ramadhan Saifullah Usman (winger), Pahang midfielder Nur Azam Azih and Odisha midfielder Liridon Krasniqi.

The team will report for duty on March 14 and are scheduled to train at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

NATIONAL SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Farizal Marlias (JDT), Khairulazhan Khalid (Selangor), Kalamullah Al-Hafiz (PJ City) and Mohd Rahadiazli Rahalim (Terengganu)

Defenders: Syahmi Safari, Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak, Shahrul Saad, La’vere Corbin Ong (JDT), Quentin Cheng, Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar (Selangor), Dominic Tan (Sabah), Dion Cools (SV Zulte Waregem, Belgium)

Midfielders: Syamer Kutty Abba, Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan, Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Safiq Rahim, Arif Aiman Hanapi, Safawi Rasid, Ramadhan Saifullah, Akhyar Rashid, Mohamadou Sumareh (JDT), Hakimi Abdullah, Faisal Halim (Terengganu), Liridon Krasniqi (Odisha, India)

Strikers: R. Kogileswaran, Darren Lok (PJ City), Syafiq Ahmad (Kedah), Luqman Hakim Shamsudin (KV Kortrijk, Belgium)

BACK-UP SQUAD

Goalkeeper: Ahmad Syihan Hazmi (Negri Sembilan)

Defenders: D. Kenny Pallraj (Kuala Lumpur) Rizal Ghazali (Sabah), Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee (Negri Sembilan)

Midfielders: Akram Mahinan, Zhafri Yahya, Hadin Azman (Kuala Lumpur) V. Ruventhiran (PJ City)

Strikers: Ahmad Hazwan Bakri (JDT), Norsharul Idlan Talaha (Melaka)