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Harimau Malaya bertuah

IMBAS KEMBALI...pemain negara, Safee Sali (kiri) dibentes pemain Singapura, Daniel Bennet pada perlawanan Kelayakan Piala Dunia 2014, Julai lalu.
IMBAS KEMBALI...pemain negara, Safee Sali (kiri) dibentes pemain Singapura, Daniel Bennet pada perlawanan Kelayakan Piala Dunia 2014, Julai lalu.
SKUAD Harimau Malaya masih bertuah biarpun terkandas di pusingan kedua kelayakan Piala Dunia 2014 Julai lalu apabila pasukan gergasi Asia, Australia mengundang anak buah Datuk K Rajagobal bertandang ke Sydney pada 7 Oktober ini bagi perlawanan persahabatan.
Berita baik itu disampaikan Naib Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Subahan Kamal yang menyifatkan pelawaan naib juara Piala Asia 2011 itu sebagai satu penghormatan dan pendedahan terbaik buat pemain negara.

“Kami menerima jemputan untuk mengadakan perlawanan persahabatan menentang skuad kebangsaan Australia, minggu lalu. “Bagaimanapun perkara ini akan dibincangkan di peringkat Exco terlebih dulu tapi kemungkinan besar kami bersetuju kerana bukan senang untuk kita diberi peluang menentang skuad Piala Dunia Australia.
“Saya fikir belum pernah Malaysia menentang Australia sebelum ini dan ini satu penghormatan buat skuad Harimau Malaya apabila dapat berdepan barisan pemain bintang Australia seperti Tim Cahill dan Harry Kewell,” katanya.

Pelawaan Australia itu ibarat orang mengantuk disorongkan bantal buat FAM yang berdepan kesukaran mendapatkan perlawanan berkualiti buat skuad kebangsaan selepas gagal mara ke peringkat kumpulan kelayakan Piala Dunia apabila tumpas kepada Singapura menerusi agregat 6-4 sebelum ini.

Ini terbukti apabila skuad kebangsaan yang berkumpul pada awal bulan lalu hanya menjalani latihan biasa tanpa perlawanan persahabatan antarabangsa selepas gagal mencari pasukan bagi menggantikan Oman dan Indonesia yang membatalkan perlawanan yang diatur pada awalnya.

Selain memiliki reputasi selaku juara Asia Tenggara, Malaysia menjadi pilihan Australia yang dibimbing jurulatih Jerman, Holger Osieck sebagai persiapan sebelum menentang Thailand pada pusingan peringkat kumpulan Kelayakan Piala Dunia pada 15 November ini.

“Australia akan menentang Thailand dalam pusingan kelayakan Piala Dunia, mungkin mereka mahu mencari pasukan dari rantau ini untuk dijadikan ujian sebelum menghadapi perlawanan itu,” katanya.


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