KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 (Bernama) -- Former Football Association of
Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad feels the
National squad should avoid playing friendly matches against club teams.
Ibrahim Saad said playing against clubs would not benefit Datuk K. Rajagobal's National squad but instead can tarnish the image of the country if they lost to lesser known clubs, especially if such clubs are from the lower tier.
"When I was the secretary-general from 2005-2007, we (FAM) issued a guideline, forbidding National coaches from playing friendly matches against club, provided they were invited.
"Playing against clubs would also not contribute any points to improve the ranking of the country. I am surprised to see the FAM allowing such matches of late," he told Bernama when contacted.
The National squad which is on a playing tour to Japan, suffered an embarrassing 0-5 defeat to Shonan Bellmare, a Division I outfit in the J-League which had finished as the second last team in the Div I.
Last Thursday, the National team which is preparing for the match against Spanish giants, Barcelona at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Aug 10, had lost 0-2 to another Division I team, Shimizu S-Pulse.
The National squad is down to play Tokyo Verdy, a Division Two club on Wednesday before returning home.
Malaysia are currently ranked 159th in the FIFA ranking.
For the record, the National squad has played 12 friendly matches but won only two, drew one and lost the rest.
-- BERNAMA
Ibrahim Saad said playing against clubs would not benefit Datuk K. Rajagobal's National squad but instead can tarnish the image of the country if they lost to lesser known clubs, especially if such clubs are from the lower tier.
"When I was the secretary-general from 2005-2007, we (FAM) issued a guideline, forbidding National coaches from playing friendly matches against club, provided they were invited.
"Playing against clubs would also not contribute any points to improve the ranking of the country. I am surprised to see the FAM allowing such matches of late," he told Bernama when contacted.
The National squad which is on a playing tour to Japan, suffered an embarrassing 0-5 defeat to Shonan Bellmare, a Division I outfit in the J-League which had finished as the second last team in the Div I.
Last Thursday, the National team which is preparing for the match against Spanish giants, Barcelona at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Aug 10, had lost 0-2 to another Division I team, Shimizu S-Pulse.
The National squad is down to play Tokyo Verdy, a Division Two club on Wednesday before returning home.
Malaysia are currently ranked 159th in the FIFA ranking.
For the record, the National squad has played 12 friendly matches but won only two, drew one and lost the rest.
-- BERNAMA
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