I watched and read this fiasco with interest to transcribe my resentment in this blog.

We did it again, and this time, it is in the AFC Youth (Under-20) Football opening game against the humble Vietnam. Looking at the shiny and stylish adidas/nike branded boots they put on last night and how they prepare for 2 years traveling overseas to have friendly matches which local presses regard as the biggest preparation ever made by the national team since Olympic Barcelona 1992, they were tipped to hammer Vietnam easily. Nevertheless that was just a hit and miss or prediction on paper, in which clearly favored to the Malaysian team. But it went completely wrong, looking on how poor football they played last night. Sloppy defending, fruitless effort by the midfielders to deliver effective ball to the strikers, and in the end, the strikers did a Crouch. Look how slack the team right from the first line to the attacking line. In the end, Vietnam won the battle, thanks to Badrul Bakhtiar for scoring the own goal.

For the next game against the mighty Saudi Arabia, my only advice is to stay cool and not to concede to much goals. Winning is an option, not an anticipation, based on how bad you guys played in the first match. No high hopes from me.

“Whatever happens in India, it does not spell the end of this team as we have a long-term programme to mould them for the SEA Games next year (in Thailand) as well as the next one in 2009,”

2 years of heavy preparation in and out of the country, millions of ringgit have been invested and high hopes have been bestowed, how could you ask us to wait?