Haze affects Harimau Malaya's centralised training

Interim head coach of the national football team Datuk Ong Kim Swee conceded that the haze has somewhat affected the squad's centralised training at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) field in Kelana Jaya, here.

Nevertheless, he said the training must go on because the team had only two days before leaving for Bangkok on Tuesday to play against Laos in a class A friendly match at the Thai Army Stadium on Oct 8.

"This training is very crucial and we will look at the haze situation tomorrow. If it worsens, we will only do light training at the (FAM) gym or at the hotel where the team will be staying," he said when met by reporters at the first day of the squad's centralised training session, Sunday.

A total 15 players reported for the training session while the remaining eight players, namely, seven Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) players and Perak captain, Mohd Nasir Basharuddin will report in Monday.

Perak and JDT were playing in the Malaysia Cup action in Group B at Perak Stadium, Ipoh, Sunday.

"At present, all the players are in good conditions, except for (Selangor player) Ahmad Hazwan Bakri who has a swollen knee, but the injury is not serious," said Kim Swee.

In the meantime, the Melaka-born coach stressed that his focus was to prepare the national squad to face two important matches, despite news reports claiming his contract with FAM would not be renewed.

FAM was reported to have advertised for the post of coach for the B-23 national squad which failed to display encouraging performance in several championships previously.

Kim Swee, who is also B-23 national squad coach, also revealed that he had met FAM deputy president Datuk Abdul Mokhtar Ahmad recently, to discuss his future with the sport's national governing body.

"Of course I feel a bit disappointed. but when I am given a trust, definitely I must carry out my responsibility and put aside all problems," he added.