Football

I’m only here for my country – Datuk Ong Kim Swee

Malaysian interim head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee has reaffirmed his desire to remain focused on the World Cup qualifiers, despite plenty of uncertainty regarding his immediate future.

The former Malaysian international is vying for the national team job alongside a host of foreign candidates, though his existing role with the U-23 squad is now uncertain after Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) posted a public advert, looking for someone to fill in his role.

But while Ong is slightly perturbed by the ongoing fracas, he intends to not let any of that influence his focus with the national team, for the time being.

“Yes I’m a bit confused with the situation, but I’ve been handed a job, and I will do my best to get it done,” he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.

“Yesterday, I started the national camp and pushed aside every other problem. Let me focus on the existing game against Laos and Timor Leste first,” he added.

WHAT DO WE THINK?

It’s shambolic of FAM to publicly advertise the job on a national newspaper, when coaches are preparing for major games. In fact, it’s shambolic of them to even advertise in the first place. Internal changes need to be kept internal and dealt with privately, and it’s unfair on Datuk Ong Kim Swee, who has done a decent amount in helping the national set-up. It’s about time he’s shown some respect, and that better come in the lead up to the game against Laos and Timor Leste.

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