PETALING JAYA (10 Nov 2012) – Datuk K. Rajogobal, the chief coach of Malaysia, is not panicking just yet in spite of the two defeats the team suffered in their last two matches.
The defending AFF Suzuki Cup champions went down 1-0 to Vietnam in Hanoi the previous week, before losing 2-0 to Thailand in Bangkok a few days ago.
“People can say whatever they want about this team,” said Datuk Rajagobal (pix). “But I know the real situation. I don’t see the need to worry as afterall, we are still in the preparation stage.”
Rajagobal added that the situation now is nowhere close to how he felt two years ago at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010. He said that his position then at the start of their campaign in Jakarta was much worse.
“Then, we started the tournament badly in Jakarta. We lost 5-1 to the hosts and we were criticized badly with some quarters ready to send us home,” he added.
“But we came back to qualify for the semi-finals and then went on to become champions. So it is for that reason, I’m not panicking now.
“We have to face the fact that other teams are also preparing hard for this tournament. We are not the only ones. Every team wants to improve and it will be a much harder competition than it was two years ago.
“But we are still aiming to defend the crown we won two years ago. That has never changed.”
For the AFF Suzuki Cup, the Malaysians are in Group B against Indonesia, Singapore and Laos.
