The FA of Malaysia (FAM) will request a letter of explanation from the Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) quartet Safiq Rahim, Aidil Zafuan, S. Kunanlan and Amirulhadi Zainal, through the club, following their shock retirements from international football last week.

The four, who have amassed 241 international caps between them, made the announcement on the Southern Tigers Facebook page, soon after their return from June's tour of Oceania.

National coach Ong Kim Swee, speaking at FAM headquarters on Monday, admitted that coping without the experienced quartet won't be easy.

"The biggest change will be the backline, as Aidil and Kunanlan were an integral part of the team" said Kim Swee, who reiterated his stance of leaving the national door ajar for the four. "I can't make an immediate transformation with the younger players, but we have enough time to scout for replacements.

"I have delegated my coaching staff to assess the players at the ongoing league and Malaysia Cup, and we will pick the best players available."

FAM also issued a statement, refuting all the allegations that JDT made on their Facebook page, which lambasted the national team's training that led to the players getting injured.

The Southern Tigers had alleged that the national team trained only four times in 11 days of their Oceania Tour, compared to 19 sessions with JDT during the same period.

"Statement on the national team's lack of high intensity training, which led to injuries, is not true. Throughout the tour, only four players suffered injuries. They were Shahrom Kalam (Selangor), Mahali Jasuli (JDT) and Abdul Latiff Suhaimi (PDRM) against Papua New Guinea on June 17," read the statement.

"Zaquan Adha (JDT II), meanwhile, was injured against New Caledonia on June 22. This proves that the statement of five JDT players who returned from national duty injured is not true."

The media release, issued by the governing body's general secretary Hamidin Mohd Amin, went on to dismiss the allegations of the lack of training.

"The team had seven training sessions in 11 days. During that period, the team also played New Caledonia and Fiji. This was besides the travel from Brisbane, Australia to New Caledonia, from New Caledonia to Fiji and back to Kuala Lumpur.

"Thirteen training sessions were held throughout the 19-day tour, including six days of travel and three match days.

"After the friendly against Myanmar (May 28) and Asian Cup qualifier playoff against Timor Leste (June 2 and 6), the players were given four days' rest before they reported for the Oceania Tour on June 11."

Kim Swee added that his relationship with all his players were good, and they could see him anytime if they were unhappy.

"If they are fed up, they are most welcomed to see me or the management on their concerns. They are professionals and know their responsibility," he said.

"At the end of the tour, I had a good chat with seven players on how to improve the team, and I did not see of any who complained about my training."

Hamidin plans to get in touch with JDT owner Tunku Sultan Ismail (TMJ) to discuss the retirements. He also called on all parties to stand behind the national coach, who was installed on a permanent basis in January.

"He should be given a chance to prove his worth at the AFF Cup [in November] and the Asian Cup qualifiers next year, which we can still make," he said.

"TMJ also wants the national team to really improve, and I will speak to him about it."

Malaysia's next assignment will be a friendly away to Indonesia (Sep. 6), followed by another two friendlies against Singapore (Oct. 7) and Afghanistan (Oct. 11).

Kim Swee's men are likely to play another three friendlies in November before the biennal AFF Cup later that month. By then, he hopes that the JDT quartet -- aged 28, 29, 29 and 30 -- may have had a change of heart.

"The door is always open. If you perform well, that is will be the criteria, regardless of the club you represent," Kim Swee said.

Source:
courtesy of ESPNFC

by Nicolas Anil

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