KUALA LUMPUR: National interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe has defended his decision to omit Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) players from his 24-man squad for friendlies in China, citing the club’s congested November schedule.
Cheng Hoe said the exclusion was necessary after considering JDT’s commitments in the Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE), Asean Club Championship, and FA Cup semi-finals, while recognising the importance of the club’s continental campaign to Malaysia’s AFC Member Association (MA) ranking.
JDT are scheduled to play four matches this month, and Cheng Hoe said giving them room to manage their workload could eventually benefit Malaysian football.
“Besides giving JDT room to manage their congested schedule, I have also considered the importance of allowing them to focus fully on their continental commitments.
“JDT have an opportunity to add more points to Malaysia’s MA ranking, which will benefit the country’s standing in Asian football,” he said.
Cheng Hoe said the absence of several JDT regulars has opened the door for other players to stake their claims ahead of the 2030 World Cup-2032 Asian Cup qualifying campaign.
Of the 24 players selected, 11 featured in Malaysia’s FIFA Asean Cup campaign this year in Indonesia, while another 11 have earned recalls, including three who also represented the national team in the Hyundai Asean Cup.
Harimau Malaya will face hosts China on Nov 14 before playing Yemen three days later at the Zhaoqing New District Sports Centre Stadium in Guangdong.
“For these two friendlies in China, I have decided to give more players an opportunity, including two new faces in the national squad.
“I want to see their ability, quality and suitability for international football, as well as how well they adapt to our playing style and the team’s requirements,” he said.
With the next FIFA international window not scheduled until March, Cheng Hoe said it was important to make full use of the China tour to assess his options, build partnerships, and strengthen the team’s tactical understanding.