KUALA LUMPUR: Football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir has urged critics not to question national chief coach Kim Pan Gon's choice of players for the 2026 World Cup/2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Jamal said South Korean Pan Gon is paid to do his job and he has his reasons for calling the players that he sees fit.
"We have to accept this, we're outsiders. He wants players that fit his strategy," said Jamal.
In the latest additions to Pan Gon's 25-man national training squad, he included naturalised player Mohamadou Sumareh, who has been out of the national team for more than a year, midfielder Afiq Fazail, defenders Shahrul Saad and Syahmi Safari and goalkeeper SIkh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman. The national team will begin training tomorrow for the World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan on Nov 16.
"He wouldn't simply take players without quality, and maybe he sees advantages in Sumareh.
"I think it's not about Pan Gon still experimenting but about who he can fill in if players like Arif Aiman Hanapi is injured."
The Gambian-born Sumareh had appeared in only four matches for Johor Darul Ta'zim, accumulating only a total of 87 minutes game time.
"We must remember that Pan Gon still has time and room to drop certain players. I know he's in a dilemma now with some players coming in but can't perform."
However, Jamal said players like Safawi Rasid (senior team) and Luqman Hakim Shamsuddin (national Under-23) have failed to perform and should not be relied on any more.
"I think they haven't shown improvement despite their international exposure. They do not bring added value to their teams," said Jamal.
As the national Under-23 team begin training on Monday for the 2024 Asian Cup under newly appointed Spanish coach Juan Torres Garrido, Jamal said: "I do question Luqman being called up again. He's not performing well, not playing well abroad too (for Iceland's Njarovik FC). So, this could be his last chance. Who knows he might be gone after this."
On who is the most outstanding player in the national team, Jamal said he is impressed by Johor Darul Ta'zim winger Arif Aiman.
"He's extraordinary. He can read the game, his ball control is superb and he is able to confidently beat opponents which we seldom see in young players.
"In the Asian Champions League against Ulsan Hyundai (JDT won 2-1), he went in, pushed the ball easily for Akhyar Rashid to score.
"There's beauty in his game, he can be marked by two-three players but he can still push through."
