* Malaysians outclassed in every department in 6-0 defeat to Palestine
* Defence in shambles
* ‘I will not quit’ – Dollah
It was a night of misery. It was a night of shame. It was a night of disaster. It was a night when Malaysian football hit an all-time low in international matches.
There was no coordination in the tea. There was no chemistry among the so called Malaysian football stars who are highly paid in the M-League.
Malaysia can kiss goodbye to their hopes of ever going beyond the World Cup qualifier as chief coach Dollah Salleh rightly said at the end of the match that it was “nightmare” for him as Palestine rolled to a 6-0 win at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Goalkeeper Farizal Marlias, brought in for Khairul Fahmi Che Mat was “clowning” in his box while defender Fadhli Shas simply could not get his foot right as the marauding Palestinians came wave after wave.
Skipper Safiq Rahim, Amri Yahyah, Safee Sali – some of the big names who don Johor Darul Takizm colours in the M-League – left a big question mark and one wonders if they will be able to stop the rot when they face the might of Arab nations (Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates, the other two teams in Group A).
For the record Malaysia could only take a point off Timor Leste in their opening Group A match at the same venue last week.
If the backline stood out like a sore thumb it was not different upfront with Safiq, newcomer Aifq Azmi, a hot stuff for Selangor in the Super League, Amri were no different upfront.
“I just don’t know what is wrong with the team. After we conceded the third goal we simply collapsed. There was no fightback when I though we will be able to make a comeback.
“The scoreline is hurting. The performance of the team is hurting. It also hurts when what you did in training is never implemented in a match. This is my worst experience but it will not stop me from rebuilding Malaysian football.
“For one…I will not quit because I am not a coward,” said Dollah.
With Malaysia’s next World Cup qualifier only in September, Dollah may well start looking for new blood and release some of the so called big names in the squad.
What made the heavy defeat to Palestine all the more hurting is that Malaysia have all the facilities to train and play at stadiums that are world class while war-torn Palestine gave us a lesson in the game that we once ruled in this part of the world.
