KUALA LUMPUR: National youth coach Ong Kim Swee has been placed in temporary charge of the national team for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) moved quickly to install Ong in the hot seat following Dollah Salleh’s decision to quit after the 10-0 thrashing by the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
This will be the second time Ong will taking the helm of the national team having also acted as undertaker in early 2014 as FAM searched for a successor to Datuk K. Rajagobal.
Malaysia were unbeaten under Ong, edging Yemen 2-1 in an Asian Cup qualifier in Al Ain and a pair of 0-0 draws with the Philippines in home and away friendly matches.
“The choice of Ong is based on the fact that he is an experienced coach and also having been the national caretaker coach between February and June 2014,” FAM said in a statement today.
Ong had also led Malaysia’s Sea Games campaign for the last three editions, winning gold in 2011 though his last assignment ended dismally following a group stage elimination in Singapore this year.
Dollah’s decision to resign also meant the exit of his assistants Reduan Abdullah, Wan Mustaffa Wan Ismail and Omar Salim.
Ong’s own assistants Brad Maloney and Yong Wai Hwang will continue to work with him while attached to the national team.
“The search for a permanent coach will be led by the special task force chairman Datuk Mokhtar Ahmad, the FAM deputy president,” FAM added.
Ong will take charge of his first training session later today at Wisma FAM in Petaling Jaya.
-http://www.nst.com.my/
