Three days are inadequate - Sathia

Coach Sathianathan needs a longer period with his players

NATIONAL team supremo B. Sathianathan has urged his counterparts in the M-League to consider releasing their players earlier for centralised training ahead of an international match.

“Three days to prepare a team for a competitive match are enough,” said Sathianathan after watching his Under-23 side lose their bearings against a strong China Olympic squad in Yanbian on Sunday.

Reinforced by their English-based stars, including skipper Zheng Zhi of Charlton Athletics and Manchester United’s Dong Fangzhuo, the hosts registered a comfortable 4-0 win Yanbian in the Jilin Province.

Zheng Zhi, Fangzhuo and Gao Lin got their names on the scoresheet in the 38th minute, 43rd and 78th minute respectively.

China coach Ratomir Dujkovic placed playmaker Zheng Zhi, defender Li Weifeng and striker Han Peng in the starting line-up and they could be the overage players for the hosts in the Beijing Olympics three weeks away.

Sathianathan said he made seven changes in the second half but the team were let down by their poor fitness.

“We need a longer period of preparation in order to whip the players into shape. We created a lot of chances and we managed to push the Chinese side to their limits,” said Sathianathan.

The starting line-up read Syed Adney Syed Hussain, a back four of Daudsoo Jamaluddin, S. Subramaniam, Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak and Asraruddin Putra Omar, with Bunyamin Umar and Azi Shahril Azmi shielding the rearguard.

Amirulhadi Zainal started on the right flank whereas Baddrol Bakthiar on the left channel, with Khyril Muhymeen Zambri and Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak spearheading the attack.

In the second half Ashari Shamsuddin came in for Baddrol, Safiq Rahim for Azi, Farderin Kadir for Amirul, Nasril Nourdin for Syed Adney, Norshahrul Idlan Talaha for Muhymeen and Chun Keng Hong for Daudsoo.

“The game started with our side controlling the game and created some scoring chances.

“The Chinese were back pedaling and only through Li Weifeng and Zheng Zhi that they managed to pull themselves out of their troubles. Aidil, Subramaniam, Zaquan, Baddrol and Muhymeen had a good first half.

“Ashari who replaced Baddrol also acquitted himself well. We lost a bit of shape after conceding two late goals in the first half.

“Fatigue began to creep in and I am not surprised because three days of complete training are not enough to prepare for tough opponents like China.”

The former national midfielder will quickly shift his attention to the national team upon his return as they are scheduled to take on India at Hyderabad on July 22.

Sathianathan and his assistants Zaki Sheikh Ahmad, Ismail Ibrahim and Mazlan Wahid as well as physical trainer Rustov Bozik have selected 18 players for the India trip.

Seven of them - defenders Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, S. Subramaniam, Daudsu Jamaluddin, midfielders Azi Shahril Azmi, Amirulhadi Zainal and strikers Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak and Khyril Muhymeen Zambri – travelled to China.

The senior team will report for duty on July 16.

The national senior team:

Goalkeepers: Helmi Eliza Elias, Badrulzaman Abdul Halim; Defenders: S. Subramaniam, Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak, Fauzie Nan, Daudsu Jamaluddin, Norhafiz Zamani Misbah, Irwan Fadzli Idrus, Shafizan Hashim; Midfielders: Shukor Adan, Hardi Jaafar, Amirulhadi Zainal, Azi Shahril Azmi; Forwards: Hairuddin Omar, Nizaruddin Yusof, Indra Putra Mahayuddin, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri, Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak.