PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s under-23 football coach, Nafuzi Zain, has hinted that the team may need to adjust their plans if the SEA Games football draw in Thailand this December is redone.
This follows Cambodia’s decision to withdraw from eight sports including football at the biennial Games due to security concerns arising from political tensions with Thailand.
Based on last month’s draw, Malaysia was placed in Group B alongside Vietnam and Laos, while Cambodia was drawn with hosts Thailand and Timor-Leste in Group A.
Group C featured four teams, consists of Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore.
Cambodia’s withdrawal is expected to affect the current group line-up, and a redraw could be necessary to ensure a balanced competition at the group stage.
In addition, the venue for Group B matches, originally scheduled at Tinsulanon Stadium in Songkhla, had to be changed due to severe flooding in the area, with organisers reportedly looking to move the games to Bangkok.
However, Nafuzi has yet to receive any official information on the matter, and his focus remains on preparing the team ahead of their departure for Thailand next week.
"If there is a redraw, we do not know which group we will be placed in. At the moment, our preparations are focused on facing Laos and Vietnam, and if a redraw is made and we have to face different teams, we may need to revise our plans.
"But so far, no official confirmation has been received," said Nafuzi when contacted.
Nafuzi is also facing a tough challenge as he could lose several players for the SEA Games group-stage opener, with some of his squad likely to be recalled by their clubs for Super League matches.
The situation has clearly added to Nafuzi’s headaches as he tries to finalise the 23-man squad for Thailand ahead of the football tournament, which kicks off on December 3.
"Some players may still be involved in Super League matches, and the issue of their release has become a dilemma. Although they are training with the national squad, if league games are scheduled, they will return to their respective clubs.
"So we may not be able to use the services of certain players for the opening match, including those from Terengganu, Selangor and Penang," he added.
