Looking for Busan boost

08/06/2002

THE stakes are high as a young Malaysian side face a stern test against
South Korea in the Four-Nation in Melbourne today, where a win will be a
big boost for the men in yellow who are preparing for the Asian Games in
Busan.
Playing in their first tournament after ending eighth in the Kuala
Lumpur World Cup, the young team can salvage some pride if they beat the
Koreans, but if they don't, the experience will be good in the run-up to
the German Masters.
In the first leg in Adelaide, Malaysia went down 3-0 to the Koreans.
Team manager Yahya Atan, in a telephone interview from Melbourne, feels
that the national side played badly in the first leg in Adelaide because
some of the new players did not understand how to play a tactical game.
"In Adelaide, the new inclusions in the team like Ismail Abu, Megat
Azrafiq Termizi, Mohamed Fakhrulrazi, Mohamed Fikri Bassar and V. Vinodhan
were lost because they did not understand the tactical match planned by
coach Paul Lissek.
"But in the second leg, they have become more comfortable and we have a
good chance of beating the Koreans," said Yahya.
Malaysia are playing in the Four-Nation to prepare for the coveted
German Masters on June 14-16, involving defending champions Germany, Spain
and Argentina.
There will be some changes in the squad for the German Masters as
Stephen van Huizen is training a handful of players back home.
The national squad has 25 players in training and only 18 players were
named for the Four-Nation. Those training back home are Khairul Nizzam
Ibrahim (goalkeeper), Mohamed Supian, (defender), Mohamed Razi (midfield),
Shaiful Azli (midfield), Zulkifli Rejab (midfield), Fairuz Ramli (forward)
and Tajol Rosli (forward).
"Chua Boon Huat (playing in the German League now) will also be eligible
to play in the German Masters so we will have a balanced side for the
Masters," said Yahya.
Malaysia are preparing to put up a good performance in the Asian Games
in Busan in September, and the team manager said a few hard knocks in the
run-up tournaments will only do them good.
Melbourne - Today: South Korea v Malaysia, Australia v India; Tomorrow:
third-fourth and final.
(END)