Run with the big dogs

Moving forward: Mixed-heritage players like Dion Cools and local boy Arif Aiman Hanapi have shown that Malaysia are on the right trajectory.

PETALING JAYA: After losing to Thailand 3-0 in the AFF Mitsubishi Cup second-leg semi-final on Jan 11, coach Kim Pan-gon took full responsibility.

He said his players fought like ‘dogs’ and should not be blamed. Instead, he made an impassioned plea and promised that his boys would bounce back after that setback to be a force in South-East Asia.