PETALING JAYA: The seniors have to be on their toes in their fight for places in the national team for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championships, which will be held in December.
National coach B. Sathianathan said the Under-23 boys were fast moving up the ranks as seen in their spirited performances in the Inter-Continental Cup tournament.
Against much stronger opponents, the team was not expected to reach the semi-finals but the players performed creditably well.
They lost 1-3 against Ireland, beat Iraq 1-0 and snatched a surprise 1-1 draw against Beijing Olympic-bound Nigeria.
Keen tussle: Malaysia’s Mohd Zaquan Adha Razak battling for the ball with Nigeria’s James Monday during their Inter-Continental Cup match on Monday. The game ended 1-1.
“On the current form of the Under-23 boys, the seniors are going to have a tough time to break into the national team,” said Sathianathan yesterday.
Work to prepare the national team for the AFF Championships has begun. A total of 26 senior players were called up to report for centralised training yesterday at the Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya ahead of their friendly international against the Indonesian national team in Jakarta on June 7.
“I have called up several former internationals who did well in the M-League. This is the time for them to show me whether they can deliver for the national team,” said Sathianathan.
On the performance of the Under-23 boys in the Inter-Continental Cup, Sathianathan said that the team showed marked improvement from match to match.
“I am quite surprised by the high standards of the teams in the tournament. Playing higher level matches will help our boys improve,” he said.
“I had barely nine days to prepare the team. They played only one friendly against Maldives. I could not have asked for more from the boys. They fought hard and gave good accounts of themselves in the tournament.”
On the senior players who have been given the chance to make a return to the national team for the AFF tournament, Sathianathan said: “They certainly have to fight for their places. There is no short cut and with the Under-23 boys breathing down their necks, there will be good competition for places.”
Among the former internationals in the training squad are Mohd Nizaruddin Yusop, Rosdi Talib, Hasmawi Hassan, Chan Wing Hong, Idris Karim, Irwan Fadly Idrus, Juzaili Samion and Liew Kit Kong.
The three seniors in the Under-23 squad for the Inter-Continental Cup, skipper Mohd Shukor Adan, centre back Norhafiz Zamani Misbah and striker Mohd Safee Sali, have been give a couple of days rest before they rejoin the training squad.
Safee scored three goals in the Inter-Continental Cup tournament, including the equaliser against Nigeria.
National Training Squad
Goalkeepers: Mohd Helmi Eliza Elias (Ked), Mohd Farizal Marlias (Shahzan Muda), Badrul Zaman Halim (PKNS).
Defenders: Fauzie Nan, K. Soley (Per), Shafizan Hashim, Ahmad Fauzie Shaari, V. Thirumurugan (Ked), Chan Wing Hong (Prk), P. Gunalan (Sel), Mohd Aidil Zafuan (Nse), Irwan Fadly Idrus, Juzaili Samion (UPB-MyTeam), Chun Ken Hong (Pen), Rosdi Talib (Pah).
Midfielders: Mohd Hardi Jaafar (Prk), Idris Karim, Shahurian Abu Samah (Nse), Eddie Helmi Abdul Manan (Joh FC), K. Nanthakumar (Prk).
Strikers: Saramsak Kran, Hasmawi Hassan (Ked), Akmal Rizal Rakhli, Indra Putra Mahayuddin (Sel), Liew Kit Kong (Kuala Muda), Mohd Nizaruddin Yusop (Pol).
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