Najib rallies players

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak took time off from his hectic schedule in Kuantan to give a pep talk to the national Under-23 team before Ong Kim Swee's side played Singapore in their Merdeka Tournament opener yesterday.

Najib spent about 10 minutes in the dressing room and was briefed by FA of Malaysia (FAM) general-secretary Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin and Kim Swee on the team's progress.

The prime minister expressed hope the team would do well in the tournament ahead of December's Sea Games in Myanmar.

"I told the players to do their best as a good result will give them the confidence for the Sea Games. The target is the gold medal in Myanmar and I am confident we can achieve a third straight title," said Najib at the Darulmakmur Stadium.

"They have the experience and have been training together for the last few months. I believe we can do it. They must, however, train harder to achieve their goals."

Kim Swee's side spent five months in Slovakia and played friendly matches against clubs and international youth teams. Malaysia won the Sea Games title in Laos (2009) and Indonesia (2011).

Hamidin said FAM was touched by the support shown by Najib.

"We have invested a lot on the team and I do not see why they can't retain their gold medal at the Sea Games. We have provided everything to them," said Hamidin.

(Source: www.nst.com.my)