by Ian De Cotta
SINGAPORE - When Radojko Avramovic named his provisional national football squad of 33 players last week, he singled out Khairul Amri (picture) as one of the key figures in the team.
Injuries have prevented Singapore fans from seeing the fleet-footed striker at his best for some time now.
Finally fit and in good form, national coach Avramovic is ready to give Khairul the responsibility to lead Singapore's attack.
Right now, though, there is a tussle between the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and Khairul's Indonesian club, Persiba Balikpapan, over the player's recall for national team duty.
In preparation for a possible blockbuster clash with ASEAN champions Malaysia in pre-World Cup second round qualifiers on July 23 and 28, the Lions have lined up an international friendly with the Maldives next Tuesday at Jalan Besar Stadium.
But Balikpapan have refused to release their star striker until their last game of the season on June 19.
World governing body FIFA have already indicated on their annual calendar that June 3 and June 7 are for international matches, which means clubs will have to release their players for national duty.
Lions team manager Eugene Loo has already written to Balikpapan requesting Khairul's release and reminding them of the Fifa ruling. Clubs who do not adhere to the ruling risk being penalised.
"The Maldives match is important for Raddy (Avramovic) to test the cohesion of the team, and we need Khairul to be part of that test," Loo told MediaCorp yesterday. "As the match falls within the dates FIFA have set aside for international matches, we hope Balikpapan will grant his release."
According to Loo, FAS general-secretary Winston Lee has also been in touch with PSSI officials about the player's release.
Khairul is one of three Indonesia-based players - there are eight Singaporeans plying their trade there - recalled to the squad, five months after Singapore's shock first-round exit from the AFF Suzuki Cup.
Medan Chiefs' Shahril Ishak has already joined up and Persela Lamongan's Mustafic Fahrudin will do so on Sunday.
When contacted, Balikpapan team manager Jamal Al Rashid acknowledged receiving FAS' request and he said: "We are studying it and will revert as soon as possible."
With Indonesian football in a state of flux - rival factions are currently battling for control of the sport and FIFA have given the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) until the end of this month to sort out the crisis - there is some uncertainty over whether Khairul will be released.
Borneo-based club Balikpapan are currently ninth in the 15-club Indonesian Super League. Among the four matches remaining for them is a clash with sixth-placed Sriwijaya on Sunday, followed by a meeting with PS Semen Padang, who are second in the table, on June 9.
Speaking to MediaCorp over the telephone yesterday, Khairul said: "There is no question I want to join the national squad for the Maldives match. But my club told me they want to try and finish in the best possible position in the league, even though they are out of the title race, and they need me around.
"I don't mind coming home after Sunday's match to play against the Maldives and return after that, but it is not up to me."
No comments:
Post a Comment