Kuzain hurt by FAM's lack of courtesy

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian midfielder Wan Kuzain Wan Ahmad Kamal is feeling disheartened after learning of his absence from the latest men's national football squad via social media. The squad, announced on Thursday for the FIFA Asean Cup in Indonesia, featured a star-studded lineup including Bergson da Silva, Brad Tapp, and Manuel Hidalgo.

However, Kuzain was notably absent from the list and expressed his disappointment on X, stating that he was left in the dark about the decision without any prior communication from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) team management. The midfielder lamented on the platform, "Obviously disappointed to not be called up. More disappointing to find out through social media."

Nevertheless, Kuzain vowed to work harder in order to secure a permanent spot on the team. The player also extended his best wishes to the squad and expressed his eagerness to support them from the sidelines. Kuzain's exclusion comes in the wake of his impressive performance during Malaysia's recent Asean Cup campaign. He scored his maiden international goal, a remarkable free kick against Laos, during his second match.

Moreover, Kuzain played a pivotal role in Malaysia's decisive 1-0 victory over the Philippines in a group stage match. The star's exclusion has sparked sympathy among supporters, with some questioning why FAM did not inform the players directly before publicly announcing the team list.