AFF Suzuki Cup: Ong Kim Swee prepared to take responsibility

Harimau Malaysia chief coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee is prepared to bear responsibility for the failure of the national squad to qualify for the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-finals.

No wanting to point fingers at others, Kim Swee said the defeat was difficult to accept as he had set the initial target for the team under his charge to repeat the achievement of entering the final as in 2014.

Malaysia failed to advance to the semi-finals after losing 0-1 to host Myanmar in the last group B match at Thuwunna Stadium tonight, thus ending the group level challenge in the third place behind Vietnam and Myanmar.

"When we began the game, I have told the players to surprise Myanmar even though it was difficult...What I can hope from the players was for them to give their best," he told reporters at a media conference after the match.

Asked about his future as national coach, Kim Swee said he was leaving it to the Football Association of Malaysia considering his two-year contract with the governing body ends in December 2017.

In this regard, Kim Swee questioned the action of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) in using the service of Omanese referee Abdul Baqi Yaqoob Said Abdullah who refereed the match tonight despite making several controversial decisions when Malaysia beat Cambodia 3-2 in the opening match on Nov 20.

"I do no understand why was the same referee assigned to the match tonight as several incidents occurred on Nov 20 almost happened today...but I am not giving excuses (for the defeat) but it should be answered," he said.

Sharing the view was national veteran striker Mohd Safee Mohd Sali who failed to assist the national squad to qualify for the semi-finals despite the team giving an energetic performance tonight.

"We are disappointed as we failed to deliver but I am proud the squad played with commitment as a team today," said Mohd Safee who won the golden boot award when Malaysia lifted the AFF Suzuki Cup championships for the first time in 2010.

Myanmar's head coach, Gerd Zeise, on the other hand, was delighted with the victory, which ended a 12-year wait for the host to advance to the semi-finals of the biennial tournament since 2004.

"I'm happy for this victory especially for the country and also the supporters who gave great support to the team in the group stage and it is good to see this team advance to the semi-finals," he said.

The German coach was also confident of his young side to put a sizzling performance against the defending champions and group A leaders, Thailand when both teams meet in the semi-finals on a two-leg format on December 4 and 8.

The other semi-final will pit group B champions, Vietnam against Indonesia on Dec 3 and 7.

-- BERNAMA