KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah FC head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee has backed his defender, Dominic Tan, who became the target of criticism after Malaysia lost to Tajikistan in the 2023 Merdeka Cup final on Tuesday.
Kim Swee said the criticism hurled at Dominic was unfair because it insinuated that the responsibility for winning lies on Dominic’s shoulders alone.
“For me, the fans have the right to judge, but hurling baseless criticisms will not do any good to help the player.
“As everyone knows, Dominic has been with me for so long, and I believe he is an individual with a strong mentality. He even attended training even though he had just returned (to Sabah) from Kuala Lumpur after playing two full matches,” he said.
Kim Swee also said that the 26-year-old has previously performed consistently with the national team and described him as a young player who is capable of serving the country for a long time.
“If Dominic’s performance is to be criticised, it has to be done fairly. We can’t be overly critical and forget the good he has done,” said Kim Swee.
Nevertheless, the 52-year-old coach and former national team manager said Dominic should learn from his mistakes.
Dominic was badly criticised and was even accused of being the main reason for Harimau Malaya’s 0-2 defeat at the hands of Tajikistan in the final, which took place at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
As if blaming the squad for the two goals conceded was not enough, some fans also likened Dominic to England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, who is often criticised and has been the butt of jokes for his performance on the field. – October 19, 2023