‘Kim Swee takes smart approach’

DBasia.news – KUALA LUMPUR: “If I’m in the position of Datuk Ong Kim Swee, I will do the same,” said former  national team manager Sathianathan.

That’s the reaction of the FELDA United coach when asked to comment on Kim Swee’s second round of action in Group E’s last match against Bahrain at the Mukti Wibawa Stadium in Cikarang last night.

A major reshuffle with just three players maintained results to Malaysia failing to capture a win at the group stage action when facing Bahrain 2-3.

Sathianathan defended Kim Swee’s decision while describing it as a reasonable move to ensure the top players could give their best in the last 16 match against Japan this Friday.

“It is useless to target clean victories at the group stage resulting to our main players being affected for the last 16 for not getting enough rest or have injuries.

“I see Kim Swee taking a smart approach by listing the second line-up players because he wants to find a substitute who has the same caliber with the main player if anything bad happens.

“In fact, with the Japanese coaching line said to have witnessed the match against Bahrain, Malaysia’s full potential is well ‘hidden’ before the real match later,” he said when contacted today.

Kim Swee knew beforehand that the result against Bahrain will not change Malaysia’s position as Group E champion. Therefore rested three players – Baddrol Bakhtiar, Adam Nor Azlin and Muhammad Syahmi Safari – that was in the starting lineup winning against South Korea earlier.

In the match, Malaysia first opened the scoring via Syahmi Safari m-20 but Bahrain equalized the m-33 by Mohamed Hardan (m-33) before leading the game four minutes later due to Hamad Alshamsan’s network.

Despite Malaysia trying to create a resurgence, Hardan made Bahrain 3-1 ahead before Safawi Rasid narrowed the gap on the m-90 but it was too late.

Malaysia is scheduled to fight Japan in the second round on Friday and if they win against them, they will meet either China or Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals.