Palestine head coach Ehab Abu Jazar has revealed that his side will use tomorrow’s international friendly against Malaysia at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puter as a platform to test new players and continue preparations for upcoming competitions.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Abu Jazar acknowledged the significance of the match despite fielding a depleted squad.
“The friendly against Malaysia is important to test new players and assess their levels. It also comes as part of our preparation for the Arab Cup qualifiers and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers,” said Abu Jazar.
The coach confirmed that seven key players are absent due to injuries: Oday Dabbagh, Amid Mahajneh, Amid Sawafteh, Asad Hamalawi, Mohamed Habous, and Mohamed Saleh, while Augustine Mansour misses out due to club commitments.
“I believe many of these injuries are due to muscle strains from short preparation periods for some players, or recovery issues from the off-season,” Abu Jazar explained.
In response, Palestine have integrated nearly 10 new players over the past few months, reducing the squad’s average age as part of a generational renewal process.
“Malaysia are a developing and refreshed side. They have used the international breaks wisely, and we know we are facing a good, strong team,” added Abu Jazar.
Midfielder Oday Kharoob, who played in Malaysia last season, echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“This game is about testing our performance and applying the coaching staff’s new ideas. I know Malaysian football well; their players are fast and press aggressively, but we are ready to compete and go for victory,” said Kharoob.
Palestine’s Squad vs Malaysia
- Goalkeepers: Rami Hamada, Tawfiq Ali
- Defenders: Mohamed Nidal, Musab Al-Battat, Yaser Hamed, Milad Termanini, Ali Rubai, Ahmed Taha
- Midfielders: Wajdi Nabhan, Mousa Farawi, Tamer Seyam, Hamed Hamdan, Hamzeh Hussein, Oday Kharoob, Mahmoud Abu Warda
- Forwards: Badr Mousa, Adam Kaid, Wissam Abu Ali, Omar Farraj, Philip Masri
The clash promises to be a stern test for both sides, with Malaysia seeking back-to-back wins after edging Singapore 2-1, while Palestine aim to maintain their strong record against the Harimau Malaya.
Credit Photo : PFA
