Cheng Hoe Urged to Call Up Ramadhan

PETALING JAYA: Kuching City winger Ramadhan Saifullah Usman deserves an opportunity to represent Harimau Malaya in the two Tier 1 international friendlies against China and Yemen on November 14 and 17.

Experienced coach Yusri Che Lah said that based on his current form, Ramadhan is capable of filling the void left by Selangor FC captain Faisal Halim, who has yet to fully recover from injury.

According to Yusri, Ramadhan has the ability to take over Faisal’s role, with the latter affectionately known as Mickey, making the two matches an ideal opportunity for the player to prove his quality on the international stage.

Yusri acknowledged that Faisal’s absence would have some impact on the team’s strength but believed Harimau Malaya had several options to fill the winger position.

“Besides Ramadhan, Selangor FC player A. Selvan and naturalised player Romel Morales are among the options that could be considered.

“Looking at the current Super League matches, I can identify several players who are capable of filling the same position. They need to deliver convincing performances to prove that they deserve a place in the national team,” he told Utusan Malaysia.

He said the two matches were not merely opportunities to secure positive results but also a platform for players to demonstrate their abilities as they seek to strengthen their positions in the national squad.

He added that the team’s world ranking must also be taken into consideration, but the greater priority was ensuring team unity and maintaining strong performances ahead of the appointment of a new head coach, who will be announced by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

“These international friendlies are more focused on our world ranking. Most importantly, it is about how the players can come together, maintain their momentum and performances, and continue earning their places in the national squad,” he said.

Commenting on Tan Cheng Hoe’s ability to devise tactics against two opponents with different playing approaches, Yusri believed the coach’s international experience was sufficient to identify the best strategies, particularly after successfully guiding Malaysia to a clean-sheet record during the recent FIFA ASEAN Cup campaign in Indonesia.

He said the positive progress shown by the players also demonstrated that competition for places in the national squad was becoming increasingly intense, indicating that they had begun to understand Cheng Hoe’s tactical requirements.

Regarding the possibility of a change in head coach, Yusri stressed that players must remain professional and be prepared to accept any decision made by FAM, including adapting to a new tactical approach should there be a change in leadership.

“Whoever is appointed as head coach, the players must accept the decision and follow the tactical plan provided. That is their responsibility as players,” he said.

UTUSAN MALAYSIA