Subahan: National squad to be revamped

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is expected to revamp the National squad that failed to defend the AFF Suzuki Cup before preparing for the 2015 Asian Cup Qualifiers, said team manager Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal.

Subahan said a number of players who failed to show credible performances in the AFF Suzuki Cup would be dropped from the squad that will play in the Group B of the Asian Cup Qualifiers against Qatar, Bahrain and Yemen in February.

"Based on the performance of the National squad in the AFF Suzuki Cup, a number of players will be dropped and replaced by new ones," he said when contacted today.

Malaysia failed to defend the title after going down 1-3 on aggregate to Thailand in the semifinals.

Subahan said a number of players who were not included in the team for the AFF Suzuki Cup due to injuries, would be recalled.

The National team manager also reiterated that Datuk K. Rajagobal would continue to coach the National squad for the Qualifiers because his contract runs through December 2013.

Thus far, no meetings had been called to discuss the status of the 56-year-old coach after Malaysia lost to Thailand in the AFF Suzuki Cup.

Subahan said he had already submitted a detailed report of the National team's performance to FAM president Sultan Ahmad Shah to decide on the position of Rajagobal.

After the loss to Thailand, Rajagobal had come under heavy criticism with some calling him to quit while some urged the FAM to sack him.

One of the name thrown in as his replacement was Harimau Muda A coach Ong Kim Swee.

He added that critics should not blame Rajagobal for the defeat or performance of the National team since he had made vast contributions to the development of football in the country.