Solidly backed by a crowd of 6,000 in each match, it is a pity that Malaysia, despite having lost only one match, will be playing in the ninth-16th bracket in Group H with South Africa, Egypt and Poland.
For the record, Malaysia were in the same boat four years ago in Rotterdam, and lost the ninth-10th placing match against England.
How true, as even a month ago when they played in a four-nation, the boys were on the receiving end.
Rajan sees a good future in this set of players, but feels they need to be kept as a group, and monitored to bring the best out of them.
"There are a few players who will break into the senior ranks, but not many, as there is not much individual talent, but they play well as a team."
Malaysia have been placed in an easier classification group, and going by current form, should be able to top the group easily and then strive to finish ninth among 20 teams, which is not too bad considering the material Rajan had to work his magic.
Rajan, a Tenaga Nasional employee, will end his contract with the juniors in October, after which he will go back to his club side.
However, many feel that it would be a waste of talent, and experience, if Rajan is sent back to the shadows.
"He has proven himself by turning around a bunch of losers into an exciting outfit in eight months, and I feel he should be given the task of training our national Under-16 squad right after the Junior World Cup ends, that will give him four years to train the boys into winners for the next World Cup," said a senior MHF official who declined to be named, but who will bring the matter up with the coaching committee.
