* ‘I take responsibility for the defeat’ – Dollah
* ‘This is not the way I wanted (to quit) but I am responsible for what has happened’ – Dollah
* A perfect 10 for UAE as Malaysia suffer worst defeat in football history
It was expected. National football coach Dollah Salleh as quit with immediate effect after Malaysia suffered its worst defeat – a 10-0 beating at the hands of United Arab Emirates in a Asian Zone Group A World Cup qualifying round match at the Mohammed Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The former international told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport soon after arriving with the team from Abu Dhabi on Friday night that he takes full responsibility of the team’s failure.
“There is nothing much to say. I quit (as national football coach) and the decision is final. I have informed the FAM about it and my decision has been accepted,” said Dollah.
This is Malaysia’s worst defeat in an international football. Malaysia’s previous humiliating defeat was in 1967 when New Zealand defeated the Malaysians 8-2 in an international match.
The big defeat took Malaysian football to its lowest ebb and Malaysia are still winless in the group after a 1-1 draw against football minnows before war-torn Palestine hammered Malaysia 6-0. Both matches were played in Kuala Lumpur.
Dollah was hoping for a decent performance against UAE and was even counting on salvaging a point against the gulf nation. Instead, Malaysia were completely outplayed in every department as UAE took a commanding 7-0 at halftime.
And for the record Dollah was forced to use all his three goalkeepers in the match. Khairul Fahmi Che Mat started the match who conceded four goals in the first 25 minutes before he was replaced by Zamir Selamat who let in three.
Zamir, who plays for Perak in the M-League was injured and was replaced by Pahang’s Khairul Azhan Khalid but the rot did not stop and the final score read UAE 10 MALAYSIA 0.
At a post match press conference said: “It was a DISASTER. We let in four or five soft goals. I just don’t know what to say. I did not expect such a big score although we were not expected to beat a team like UAE…considered the best team in Asia.
“We also lacked preparations for the UAE match because we have just finished our league. Players are tired and you can see the football fatigue.”
With Dollah throwing in the towel it is left to be seen who will take charge of the team for Malaysia’s next match – which is against Saudi Arabia at the Shah Alam Stadium on Tuesday.
