Three new GKs for Road to London

MALAYSIA will play a Five-Test series against Japan from Sunday to kick-start their Road To London Programme, with three new goalkeepers named into the training squad.
National chief coach Tai Beng Hai, on the recommen dations of former Pakistan national coach and goalkeeper Shahid Ali Khan, included Khairul Affendy of Armed Forces, Hairi Rahman of Johor, Safiuddin Sahrom of Bukit Jalil Sports School into the training squad.
Shahid was down in Malacca for the Razak Cup, and he conducted a few training sessions for goalkeepers and the best available were included into the Road to London Pro gramme.
There will be three Qualifiers for the London Olympics, and Malaysia’s group will only be decided after the Oceania Cup on Oct 5-9 which involves Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.
The Oceania Cup offers two tickets each for the men and women’s tournament and Australia and New Zealand are the sure bets in this lop-sided Qualifier.
There were two other changes to the training list: “Rashid (Baharom) withdrew and was replaced by Fitri Saari while the injured Azri Hassan was replaced with Amir Farid,” said Beng Hai.
The coach will assess Amir in the Test matches against Japan at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
The next tournament for Beng Hai’s charges is the in augural Asian Champions Trophy on Sept 3-11 at the Mon golian city or Ordos.
Asian Games champions Pakistan, South Korea, India, China and Japan have confirmed for the tournament.
NATIONAL TRAINEES: S. Kumar (gk), Roslan Jamaluddin (gk), Razie Rahim, Baljit Singh, Madzli Ikmar, Amin Rahim, Azreen Rizal, Shahrun Nabil, Sukri Mutalib, Marhan Jalil, Nabil Fiqri, Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Faizal Saari, Azlan Misron, Hafifihafiz Hanafi, Izwan Firdaus, Kelvinder Singh,
Azammi Adabi, Izzat Rahim, Fitri Bakar, Shahrin Mo hamad, Firhan Ashaari, Faiz Helmi.
Replacement under the Attachment Program: Amir Farid, Fitri Saari.
Goalkeepers Project: Khairul Affendy, Hairi Rahman, Safi uddin Sahrom.