Defending champions Malaysia have been drawn in the “Group of Death” in the men’s Under-23 football competition for the Indonesia SEA Games next month.
Malaysia will have to contend with hosts Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore and Cambodia in Group A.
Vietnam, who finished as runners-up to Malaysia at the Laos SEA Games in 2009, have a relatively easier draw, having been pitted against Laos, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Philippines and Brunei in Group B.
The men’s football competition, scheduled to be held in Jakarta, will kick off on Nov 3.
Malaysia will open their campaign against neighbours Singapore on Nov 9 before taking on Thailand (Nov 11), Cambodia (Nov 15) and Indonesia (Nov 17). The semi-finals and final are scheduled for Nov 19 and Nov 21 respectively.
The national Under-23 squad under coach Ong Kim Swee are currently in Hanoi for the four-nation VFF championship.
Kim Swee, whose boys went down 1-3 to Uzbekistan in Hanoi yesterday, said he was not surprised with the grouping and felt that “we have to get the job done all the same to qualify for the semi-finals”.
“I think every team will feel the same way. Yes, it is a tough draw in Group A but that’s football. If we want to defend the title, we have to beat everyone,” Kim Swee said from Hanoi yesterday.
Team manager Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said that being placed in the “Group of Death” would put the players on their toes from the opening game itself.
“The competition is going to be stiff and we just have to double our work rate,” said Hamidin.
For the record, Thailand have dominated the SEA Games football competition by emerging champions 11 times since 1977.
Hosts Indonesia are expected to pose a serious threat, too.
In fact, Indonesia will be hoping to avenge their defeat to Malaysia in the final of the Suzuki Cup Asean Football Federation (AFF) championships last year.
Singapore, bronze medallists at the last two Games (2007, 2009) will be another team to watch out for.
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