“I don’t know what happened tonight”, Salleh told reporters.
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Dollah Salleh has resigned as Harimau Malaya chief coach after the squad hit rock- bottom in their third Group A match in the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asia Cup Qualifying Round.
– He was a boyhood Arsenal fan and met Arsene Wenger in 2009, as the Gunners boss was in Malaysia for coaching clinics to help promote the Federation Internationale de Football Association 2010 World Cup. My decision is final.
Dollah Salleh has confirmed his resignation as the head coach of the national team after 16 months in charge. In fact, I made the decision immediately after the defeat in Abu Dhabi.
Malaysia will take on Saudi Arabia in their next World Cup qualifier, which will be held at the Shah Alam Stadium on September 8. “I don’t blame anyone else”.
The FAM in its Facebook posting also said Ong had called up five players for the Saudi match, namely Ramadhan Hamid, Adam Nor Azlin from Harimau Muda B, Mohd Fadhli Shas (Johor Darul Ta’zim), Ahmad Fakri Saarani (Kelantan) and Nurridzuan Abu Hassan (Perak).
The vacant post will be temporarily filled by Datuk Ong Kim Swee, Malaysia’s U-23 Head Coach who has also brought in his own assistants, Brad Maloney and Yong Wai Hwang.
– He won a gold medal at the 2011 SEA Games during his first year in charge of the national U23 side and would earn the revered title of Datuk as a result.
However, the latest 10-0 defeat to UAE, Malaysia worst ever defeat in 50 years, have prompted his resignation as Malayan Tiger head coach. “I have to accept my fate”, he said. It was Malaysia’s biggest global loss, eclipsing a 8-2 thrashing by New Zealand in 1967.
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While it is a tough time for Malaysian football, the result ensured the UAE extended their ideal start in the group, and Mahdi Ali’s men next face Palestine on Tuesday.
