ASIA'S oldest football event -- the Merdeka Tournament -- returns after a five-year hiatus with Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar aiming for an early boost ahead of the Sea Games in December.
The tournament will kick-off with an explosive encounter between Malaysia and Singapore while Thailand play Myanmar in the other match at Kuantan's Darulmakmur Stadium.
Malaysia, who beat Singapore 3-1 in their last meeting in the tournament in 2007, are expected to beat their arch-rivals who arrived yesterday without six regulars. Except for Thailand, who have included 10 seniors, the others are Under-23 teams.
National youth coach Ong Kim Swee wants a win today while his Singapore counterpart V. Sundramoorthy is using the tournament for exposure purposes.
It will be Malaysia's first competitive tournament of the season and Kim Swee is confident of emerging champions but stressed that performance will be paramount.
Kim Swee left-out Young Tigers B players Wan Ahmad Amir Zafran and Muhd Ramadhan Abd Rahman together with Saiful Riduan Abdunloh from his 22-member squad yesterday.
The team also comprise eight non-Tigers A - Nasir Basharuddin (Perak), K. Reuben (Armed Forces), Junior Eldstal (Sarawak), Zubir Azmi (Terengganu), Nk Mohd Shahrul Azim Abd Halim (Kelantan), S. Sivanesan (Negri Sembilan) and FC Ryukyu duo Wan Zack Haikal Wan Noor and Nazirul Naim Che Hashim.
Midfielder Ariff Farhan Md Isa, who turned 17 on July 4, is the youngest member while Sarawak's Junior Eldstal will don the Under-23 colours for the first time.
"We are ready for the tournament. I have told my players that I only want the best from them. I couldn't have asked for a better opening match. It will be an interesting match and a good test for my players in terms of coping with pressure as everyone expects us to win," said Kim Swee, who appointed midfielder Irfan Fazail as captain.
"Singapore have been preparing for the Sea Games since January and have been playing in competitive matches in the M-League.
"They have a pool of players who have been training together and I don't think a few absentees will make a difference to them. I have advised my players to focus only on their game, not other teams."
On the inclusion of the non-Tigers players, Kim Swee said: "I hope they will be able to gel with the others. They have been responsive in training and I am confident they will do well."
Kim Swee said his team have worked on their weaknesses but lamented that they tend to take things lightly against lowly opponents.
"I compared their performances in Slovakia to friendly matches here. They played very well against Slovakian clubs but not so against local teams. I noticed this when we played Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) recently," Kim Swee added.
An unsettled Singapore may have commitment issues in the tournament with speculations of Sundramoorthy's departure to Negri Sembilan in November. The former international is close to signing a contract with the M-League side despite being given a 60 per cent pay hike by the Singapore FA (FAS)
It is learnt that former Johor Darul Takzim coach Fandi Ahmad or Singapore's senior team assistant coach Aide Iskandar will handle the Sea Games squad if he leaves.
Sundramoorthy has picked a decent squad comprising 16 players from his LionsXII side but the absence of six regulars -- goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, defenders Safuwan Baharuddin, Shakir Hamzah and Faritiz Hameed; midfielder Hariss Harun and striker Shahfiq Ghani -- could affect his team today. They are with Singapore's senior team for international friendly matches against China and Hong Kong.
Izwan and Shakir are in Sundramoorthy's squad and will arrive in Kuantan for their second match against Thailand on Monday.
Sundramoorthy said: "I am here with a selection squad. I want to give opportunities to several new players in the absence of six regulars today.
"We are now in the selection process to put up a good team for the Sea Games. Malaysia are a well-prepared side and will start as favourites.
"Of course, I want a good result and I believe we will have a chance if we can settle down 10 or 20 minutes into the match.
"My players should be able to handle the tense atmosphere as most have experienced it in the M-League," said Sundramoorthy.
http://www.information.myanmaronlinecentre.com/glory-beckons-malaysia/
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