National Stadium To Be Closed After Malaysia-Liverpool Match Next Month - Hamidin

8 Jun, 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 (Bernama) -- The National Stadium in Bukit Jalil will be closed after Malaysia's international friendly against English Premier League (EPL) club Liverpool, next month.

Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohamad Amin said the stadium would be closed to carry out maintenance work and to prepare the stadium to host the 2017 SEA Games.

"Starting from the Malaysia Cup final, all matches will be held at the Shah Alam Stadium which has been the alternative venue to the National Stadium.

"The 2018 World Cup Qualifier will also be held at the Shah Alam Stadium," he told reporters when met at the National team's training at the National Stadium, here Monday.

He said the maintenance work would also include the entire National Sports Complex, including the Putra Stadium and the National Aquatic Centre. The National Stadium which was officially opened in 1998 to stage the Kuala Lumpur 98 Commonwealth Games, was also closed on Nov 1, 2014 to carry out work on the pitch, including laying a new turf after since the old turf had suffered severe damages during the Malaysia Cup final between Pahang and Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), although the match was played on a new turf at that time.

The stadium was reopened to stage the 2015 FA Cup final on May 23, between Kelantan and Lions XII after the pitch was tufted with 'National Grass' at a cost of RM1.5 million.

Meanwhile, Hamidin said the FAM was ready to develop the 'Harimau Muda' squad in time for the 2017 SEA Games.

"In my opinion, we must accept that the team that is participating in the SEA Games is not as good as expected, based on their performance against Vietnam and Thailand.

"We (FAM) are ready to prepare a strong squad for the 2017 SEA Games. I have spoken to the President (Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah) about setting the target for the team so that in 2017 we can reach the final since we are the host nation," he said.

The SEA Games squad under coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee beat Timor Leste 1-0 in their opening match but lost 1-5 to Vietnam and 0-1 to Thailand.

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