Uzbek striker Shatskikh keen to make his mark

Sports / Stars

Uzbek striker Shatskikh keen to make his mark

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-14 16:58

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 - Uzbekistan are banking on striker Maksim
Shatskikh to revive their Asian Cup hopes when they take on hosts
Malaysia in Group C on Saturday.

Shatskikh, suspended for Uzbekistan's 2-1 defeat by Iran on Wednesday,
arrived in Kuala Lumpur two days ago from training with his Ukrainian
club Dynamo Kiev.

The 28-year-old brings major pedigree to the Uzbek side, who need victory
over Malaysia to qualify for the quarter-finals.

"The Asian Cup is the most important tournament for me and I have a lot
of motivation to win here," he told a news conference on Friday.

"It is difficult to get used to the heat in Malaysia after a very long
trip (from Europe) but I have adapted very quickly and I am fully ready
for the last two group matches."

Uzbekistan's final group match is against China on Wednesday but they
will start as favourites against a Malaysian team who were drubbed 5-1 by
the Chinese.

The host team have been criticised by Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah,
deputy president of the Football Association of Malaysia, who publicly
apologised to fans for the side's inept performance.

Coach Norizan Bakar is expected to make several changes to the line-up
and bring back defender K. Nanthakumar.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's Aziz Haydarov has said sorry for his "Iran go
home" message he showed off to the media before their Group C opener,
according to coach Rauf Inileyev.

It did not go down too well with the Iranians and the 22-year-old
suffering a kick to the hip during the match, which puts him in doubt for
the Malaysia clash.

"He said sorry to the Iran team and journalists," said Inileyev on
Friday. "He is young and wanted to spice things up. He made a mistake and
realises it now."

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