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Harimau Muda march on with 14 players

PETALING JAYA: The Harimau Muda will literally be lame tigers when they take on Hougang United in their S-League match at the Yishun Stadium tonight.

The team will only have 14 players, including two goalkeepers, as several players are out injured and four regulars are with the national team.

Defenders Mohd Fadhli Shas and Mahali Jasuli, winger Wan Zack HaikalWan Nor and striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri have been called up for Malaysia’s friendly against Sri Lanka at Shah Alam Stadium tomorrow.

Going all out: Harimau Muda’s Affize Faizal Mamat (right) is one of four defenders available for tonight’s S-League match against Hougang United.

Six others – Wan Zaharulnizam Zakaria, Gary Steven Robbat, Mohd Irfan Fazail, Mohd Amer Saidin, Fandi Othman and Amirzafran Nadris – are injured, while Mohd Syahid Zaidon, Izzaq Faris Ramlan and V. Kavichelvan are all still recovering from long-term injuries.

However, Harimau Muda coach Ong Kim Swee is taking it all in his stride.
“We only have 14 players and I have had to include the injured Amer in the squad as back-up,” said Kim Swee.

“The backline is really stretched as we only have four defenders – Affize Faizal Mamat, Shahrul Saad, Syazwan Tajuddin and Nazirul Naim Che Hashim – who are available for the match.
“We will just have to make do and try our best as usual.”

Kim Swee’s team are fifth in the 13-team league with 17 points after nine matches and the former international has challenged his second stringers to step up.
“This is their best chance to impress and bid for a regular spot in the team,” said Kim Swee.
“Hougang will be difficult opponents although they are eighth in the league.

They have four foreign players who can be a threat but we will try to nail all three points.”



THE STAR

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