Malaysia To Face EPL Side Tottenham Hotspur On May 27

7 April, 2015

SUBANG, April 7 (Bernama) -- Tottenham Hotspurs fans in Malaysia will have an opportunity to see their favourite players in action after 36 years when the English Premier League (EPL) side plays against Malaysia in an international friendly at the Shah Alam Stadium on May 27.

National head coach Dollah Salleh who confirmed that the match would be played at 8.45pm, said the match would be the last platform to finalise a team for the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers that starts in June.

Dollah said he has yet to finalise the team for the match against Tottenham since he would require at least two weeks to mould a team that can match the might of the EPL side which first played against Malaysia in 1979.

"I have not decided on the first 11 yet. I may call up players like Junior Eldstal and Azzamudin Akil who did not feature in the AFF Suzuki Cup due to injuries when facing Spurs because I want to field the best players," he said.

Dollah said the match against Tottenham would be tough since the EPL side would be arriving fresh from completing their EPL season which ends on May 24, while the players would still be in their element.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said the draw for the Asian Cup and World Cup Qualifiers would be conducted by the Asian Football Confederation on May 14.

Hamidin said the National team would start training after the FA Cup semifinal on May 17, but players whose teams have qualified for the FA Cup final would report for training on May 24.

Tickets for the match between Malaysia-Tottenham Hotspurs are priced at RM58 for free seating, RM428 for VIP seats and RM328 for grandstand.

Meanwhile, Hamidin said the FAM would discuss a proposal from Johor Football Association President Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim's proposal to adopt a knockout format for the Malaysia Cup to reduce the number matches played by players, especially players in the National team.

"We have to look at such a proposal from various aspects, including the commercial implications because we do not want teams to complain that they are playing fewer matches," he said.

Hamidin said the FAM would also discuss the case whereby Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT II) goalkeeper Mohd Anis Faron Ahmad was detained by police for allegedly using abusive words on policemen after the match against Penang at the City Stadium last Friday.

The goalkeeper was later released after police recorded his statement.

Sumber - Bernama www.bernama.com