PETALING JAYA: Recalling players on national assignment for club duties is not wrong, but there should be total understanding between both parties, says experienced tactician Irfan Bakti.
Irfan said a consensus should have been reached between clubs and the national team regarding the matter before the start of the AFF Cup, currently into the final leg of its group stage.
Sabah’s decision to recall four key players – Darren Lok, Dominic Tan, Stuart Wilkin, and Daniel Ting – from national duty stirred conversations before the Malaysia Cup quarter-finals against Kuching City on Sunday.
Earlier, Penang called their key men Syamer Kutty Abba and Adib Abd Raop to play in a Challenge Cup game against Putrajaya Athletic, which was also lambasted by many.
“For me, there’s no issue if clubs recall their players because they have the right to do so,” said Irfan.
“But before any decision is made, there must have prior discussions between the clubs and the national team regarding player movements.”
Irfan said the situation should not be seen in a negative light.
“It’s crucial to recognise the club’s decision to field their strongest eleven in big games like the Malaysia Cup,” said the former assistant national coach.
However, Irfan, who also coached sides like Terengganu, Kuching City and Felda United in the past, emphasised that this does not diminish the importance of the national team.
Given that the AFF Cup is a tournament outside the FIFA calendar, this is also an opportunity for other players to prove their abilities on the international stage without solely relying on experienced players.
“Moreover, leagues in Indonesia and Thailand continue to run during the tournament, and we must acknowledge that the national team still have other players apart from those recalled by their clubs.”
