Malaysia will get to play against senior national team’s from China, Kenya and Saudi Arabia in their preparations for the Laos SEA Games Under-23 football competition in December.
National coach K. Rajagopal said the three matches against the higher ranked teams would serve as good warm-up games for the national Under-23 players following the cancellation of the Inter-Continental Cup Under-23 tournament (June 1-14) and the Merdeka Tournament (Aug 1-15).
The two tournaments scheduled in Kuala Lumpur were called off due to the influenza A (H1N1) virus scare.
Malaysia are hoping to land the SEA Games gold they last won in 1989.
“Kenya and Saudi are preparing for their 2010 South Africa World Cup qualification matches while China are gearing up for the Asian Cup,” said Rajagopal.
He said the invitation to face the Saudis in Riyadh on Aug 30 came as an honour.
“The Saudis, with a world ranking of 61, are involved in a crucial World Cup qualifying play-off against Bahrain on Sept 5 and 9,” said Rajagopal.
Kenya are ranked 105th in the world, China are 108th while Malaysia are 157th.
A total of 27 players have been called up for centralised training. Malaysia are scheduled to play China on Aug 12 and Kenya on Aug 15. Both matches are scheduled at the Shah Alam Stadium.
Goalkeepers: Farizal Marlias (Perlis), Syed Adney Syed Hussein (MyTeam), Sharbinee Allawee (Ter);
Defenders: Mazlizam Mohd (Per), Khairul Helmi Johari, Mat Sabree Mat Abu (Ked), Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar (Sel), Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak (Nse), Mohd Muslim Ahmad, Mahalli Jasuli, Faizal Mohamed (Harimau);
Midfielders: Mohd Azmi Muslim, Mohd Bunyamin Umar (MyTeam), G. Mahathevan (Shahzan), Amar Rohidan (Per), Mohd Khyril Muhymeen (Ked), Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal (Sel), Safiq Rahim (KL Plus), K. Gurusamy, Mohd Izzaq Faris, Mohd Fandi Othman (Harimau);
Forwards: Farderin Kadir (K.M. Naza), Norsharul Idlan Talaha (MyTeam), Mohd Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak, S. Kunalan (Nse), Badrol Bakthiar (Ked) Ahmad Shakir Ali (Harimau).
SOURCE : THE STAR
Ha Ha Ha suddenly world cup teams wanna play us, during sathianathan's time fam says no teams wanna play us ...satu hari hero cerita la ni ..
ReplyDeleteHeard that Brazil also wants to play us after Dunga watched Malaysia's "exhibition" match against MU.
ReplyDeleteWonder why the likes of Japan, North & South Korea and Iran have not invited us to play them?
Malaysia Super Tigers can beat Kenya, PR China and Saudi Arabia.
ReplyDeleteFor the Game. For the World.