KUALA LUMPUR: The defeatist response of Malaysia captain Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi at the recent Under-23 Asian Cup in Doha has got Safee Sali commenting on it.
Following Malaysia's 2-1 loss to Kuwait in their final group match on Tuesday, Mukhairi, who appeared dejected in an interview with Astro Arena, said: "Maybe this is not the best place for me, maybe elsewhere. I know people don't like me, it's okay.
"People expect me to perform, they think I'm the only one playing on the field. Because I've been around for a long time, I have to take responsibility as captain."
Safee, a former national skipper, said a captain's responsiblity is to galvanise his men and lead them through challenging circumstances.
Safee stressed that the captain has to inspire confidence and fighting spirit in his team especially when the going gets tough.
"Every defeat invites scrutiny and criticism, players must deal with it professionally.
"While the (Mukhairi) interview was a spontaneous reaction, it also serves as a valuable learning experience."
Safee, a 2010 AFF Cup winner, said footballers need to deal with questions from the media calmly and rationally, but this will require special training.
Mukhairi had admitted his performance was poor in Malaysia's disastrous Under-23 Asian Cup campaign. The Young Tigers lost all their group matches, 2-0 to both Uzbekistan and Vietnam before the Kuwait match.
Meanwhile team manager Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman, who was stretchered off after a collision with a Kuwait player, has not suffered any serious injury.
