Candidates for national chief coach yet to be shortlisted - Mokhtar

Candidates for the post of new chief coach for the Harimau Malaya squad has yet to be shortlisted and the Federation of Malaysia (FAM) Taskforce has not receive any reports from the special selection panel.

FAM taskforce chairman Datuk Abdul Mokhtar Ahmad said the panel has yet to hold any meetings on the selection.

"There is no shortlist of candidates yet. I heard that the announcement will be a little while but it will be before the new year.

"We will meet with the management of the taskforce and technical department to expedite the selection process," he said after officiating the 'Roadmap of Malaysian football' workshop here today.

The workshop organised by the Football Coaches Association Malaysia (FCAM) in Wisma FAM, which was attended by 30 local coaches nationwide.

Abdul Mokhtar said a special selection panel would evaluate the background of 15 candidates applying for the job before submitting his assessment to the taskforce with the final decision to be made by FAM.

The six-member special selection panel comprised three National Sports Council representatives besides the taskforce deputy chairman Datuk Mohd Junid Mohd Noor, former national coach B. Sathianathan and FAM technical director Fritz Schmid.

Prior to this media reports said the post which is being temporarily held by B-23 squad chief coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee would be known last Oct 30.