KUALA LUMPUR – With the 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers Group E matches set to kick-off tomorrow at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, the visiting nations have voiced out their concerns over the condition of the pitch.
At the pre-match press conference today, Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera said although the national stadium is beautiful in terms of design and architecture, the playing field does not reflect the exterior.
“The reality is that the stadium is fantastic and beautiful, but the surface is not in the best condition.
“We were expecting something else,” he said.
Bangladesh will play Bahrain in their first qualifying match tomorrow at 5.15pm, before home favourites Malaysia take on Turkmenistan at 9pm.
When asked about the state of the pitch for tomorrow’s match, Harimau Malaya head coach Kim Pan-gon said it would be difficult to judge how the field would be after the previous game.
“Hopefully, it will be in good condition for us to play on after the earlier match.
“But in the end, we are all playing under the same conditions, so we will try our best to make the best of it,” he said.
He also said that the national squad is prepared for the challenge ahead and to progress further into the tournament.
“We’ve been waiting for this game. The team is excited, and we feel we are ready.
“We will try to dominate the game and give it our best fight for the Malaysian fans,” he added.
This has not been the first time concerns over the national stadium’s pitch have been raised. Previously, Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim announced that he will be gifting the national stadium a new cutting-edge pitch.
With plans for the upgrade to begin in January next year, the new field will have the same Zeon Zoysia grass used at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor at an estimated cost of between RM1.2 to RM1.4 million.
After their match against Turkmenistan tomorrow, Malaysia play Bahrain on June 11, followed by the last group stage match against Bangladesh on June 14. – The Vibes, June 7, 2022
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