By Azlan Muhammad Zain
KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- Newly appointed national head coach K. Rajagobal has requested for a three-year grace period to rebuild a formidable national team that can be the best in the region, at least in Southeast Asia.
Rajagobal had requested the three-year grace period, based on the fact that he would need time to mould the current squad of players aged between 18 and 20, into creative and thinking players.
According to the former international, lack of mental strength to determine the tempo and rhythm of play had been identified among factors in the national team's inability to be tactically better than foreign teams, although the M-League churns out about 600 professional players every year.
"Players in the M-League react very late when receiving the ball from their team-mates. By right, they should already decide on where or who to pass the ball when they had received it.
"Being positive and resilient are also important. During our time, the moment we received a national call up, we will immediately start our own training to beef up our fitness level so as to be competitive," said Rajagobal during a recent interview with Bernama.
Rajagobal however, feels the current batch of national players aged 18, 19 and 20, are a different breed since they are able to make decisions and be creative while playing.
"As such, I will need at least three years to mould them into a team that can be respected in the region," said Rajagobal who was coaching the Harimau Muda (Young Tigers) who play in the Premier League, before his appointment by the Football Association of Malaysia, two weeks ago.
"For example, their improvement in the Premier League is certainly testimony to my observation. In the first season, Harimau Muda finished 8th in the 13-team league but this season they are second in the table of 13 teams.
"Moreover, I had also released some players from the team to their states, when they had reached 20, and they have gone on to break into the first 11 of state teams that play in the Super League," said the 53-year-old coach who had played for Selangor and the national team during his heydays.
Harimau Muda, currently handled by his former assistant, Ong Kim Swee, has won seven of their eight matches played and drawn the other but remain three points behind leader, Johor, who have played nine matches.
"If I fail to achieve the desired target by three years, I will take the responsibility, but the reasons for the failure must be identified and an in-depth study conducted," he said.
Rajagobal believed, given the right exposure and guidance, the Harimau Muda squad should make the semi-finals of the 2011 SEA Games.
"For the time being, we need not worry or talk about the final of the 2009 Laos SEA Games (December). We know Thailand will be a dominant force but we need to work on our preparations first. If we can improve by 15 or 20 percent, it will be a big development," he said.
As for Laos, Rajagobal wants the national Under-23 squad to reach the semi-finals first before looking at the final.
The former Selangor and Kelantan coach added that three elements of development - grassroots, coaches and M-League - must be looked into if Malaysia aspire to recapture lost glory.
"The absence of foreign players in the league is a good chance for local players to showcase their potential and impress the selectors and players in the M-League must strive to improve themselves. Ideally, the national team should comprise of players aged between 20 to 24.
"However, the door will not be closed for senior players to make their presence in the national team. But to do so, they must have leadership qualities, able to contribute positively and most importantly, should be able to compete with the youngsters in areas of fitness," he said.
Meanwhile, Rajagobal's playing calendar for the year would be a tight one as his first test starts next month with the Inter-Continental Cup which involves the Under-23 team, from June 1-14.
That test would be followed by the senior team's match against visiting English Premier Club side, Manchester United, on July 18.
The month of August will see his boys facing the prospect of the Merdeka Cup tournament before heading to Uzbekistan for the 2011 Asia Cup Qualifiers on Nov 14, and the return leg in Kuala Lumpur, four days later.
His final task will be the search for gold in Laos as Malaysia await a gold medal in football that was won 20 years ago, when the 1989 Games was hosted in Kuala Lumpur.
-- BERNAMA
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