Kim Swee ready to face challenging times as new national coach

Newly appointed National coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee is ready to accept the task of improving the country's standing in FIFA's World ranking list.

Kim Swee said he believes the task would be possible with the cooperation and support of all the stakeholders when facing a number of important matches to be played soon.

The former National Under-23 coach, who was appointed as the National team's interim coach when former head coach Dollah Salleh resigned, was appointed by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) ahead of former Johor Darul Ta'zim coach Bojan Hodak and former Sarawak coach Robert Alberts.

"First and foremost I would like to thank the FAM and the Special Function Team headed by FAM deputy president Datuk Abdul Mokhtar Ahmad for giving me the opportunity.

"Certainly it is going to be a major challenge for me...I hope the team's standing can improve with systematic short-term and long-term planning," he said when met at a shopping mall in Subang, here Monday.

Meanwhile, former National coach B. Sathianathan, who was part of the selection panel, said Kim Swee's 'inside knowledge' of the National squad was a deciding factor in his selection.

Sathianathan, who was the National coach from 2007 to 2009, said all three candidates had put forward a detailed 'blueprint' and plan during their respective interview sessions, but the panel members chose Kim Swee as he had good knowledge of the National team which he had been handling since last year.

"A number of foreign coaches had also applied for the position through their agents but there were many aspects to be considered when choosing the right candidate," he said.

Kim Swee would also be required to prepare the National squad for the 2016 Asean Football Federation (AFF Suzuki Cup) competition from Nov 28 to Dec 18 and also assist National Under-23 coach Frank Bernhardt to prepare the SEA Games squad for the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.