Singapore's LionsXII coach V. Sundramoorthy believes his team are capable of making an immediate impact in the upcoming M-League season.
Sundramoorthy named a 28-member squad to challenge for titles on their return to Malaysian football after 17 years.
The team, led by Shahril Ishak, will compete in three domestic competitions -- the Super League, FA Cup and Malaysia Cup -- which begin next month.
Sundramoorty said a top-five finish in the Super League would be a realistic target.
"Our ambition is to finish in the top five and we will try our best to qualify for some of the Cup finals too," said Sundramoorthy recently.
"I have a new team but we have a lot of good and experienced players and with good training, we should be able to achieve it.
"It's a realistic target for the first year considering that we have a brand new team gelling together and especially after being out for 17 years.
Sundramoorthy, a pro diploma in coaching holder, was named as coach by the Singapore FA for his experience as head coach of S-League side Jurong FC and the Young Lions.
He was one of two Singapore players, along with Fandi Ahmad, to have played in Europe when he had a stint back in the 1980s Swiss club FC Basel.
The team have been strengthened by the inclusion of internationals Safuwan Baharuddin, Shahril, Khairul Amri, Isa Halim, Juma'at Jantan and Shaiful Esah while forwards Agu Casmir, G. Pravin and defender Sevki Sha'ban are surprise inclusions.
Sundramoorthy was also confident of the groundwork undertaken by his coaching staff to adequately prepare his team against their Super League rivals.
"We have been keeping tabs on our rivals and we know them inside out. We have done our research," he quipped.
He, however, said his side would need to adapt to the partisan and raucous atmosphere generated by the Malaysian fans.
"Certain sides will be difficult for the players with the crowd being noisy but that's the beauty of football. It will be good for the players to experience such atmospheres," he added.
The LionsXII team members are relishing the prospect of playing against Malaysian sides.
"It's good to be here and I signed a one-year contract and I'm looking forward to playing in the M-League," said Shahril,
The Squad -- Goalkeepers: Izwan Mahbud, Hyrulnizam Jumaat, Al-Faiz Ishak;
Defenders: Safuwan Baharudin, Juma'at Jantan, Shaiful Esah, Irwan Shah, Shakir Hamzah, Sevki Sha'ban, Shahir Hamzah, Madhu Mohana;
Midfielders: Hariss Harun , Safirul Sulaiman, Izzdin Shafiq, Isa Halim, Taufiq Rahmat, Raihan Rahman, Shahdan Sulaiman, Yasir Hanapi, Shahril Ishak , Firdaus Kasman, Pravin Guanasagaran;
Strikers:Khairul Amri, Gabriel Quak, Fazli Ayob, Khairul Nizam, Agu Casmir, Sufian Anuar.
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
Striker Ahmad Fakri steers Olympic squad to victory over Australian club
Young Tigers' Ahmad Fakri Saraani could be joining an A-League club soon if he continues to show progress in his game.
The 22-year-old earned many admirers in Australia when he impressed in the Tigers' 4-1 victory over A-League leaders Central Coast Mariners at the Mingara Athletics Track in Central Coast yesterday.
Coach Ong Kim Swee said Mariners coach Graham Arnold praised Ahmad Fakri after the match.
"Ahmad Fakri played one of his best matches of the season today (yesterday). He almost single-handedly earned our team this victory," said Kim Swee when contacted yesterday.
"Arnold congratulated him after the final whistle. He, however, needs to be consistent if he hopes to go far.
"Ahmad Fakri is starting to get his form back after a slow start to the season. I hope to see him get better."
The Mariners again fielded a mix of senior A-League and youth players, just as they did in their 1-0 win over the Tigers four days ago but the national Under-22 side were better prepared yesterday.
Ahmad Fakri opened accounts in the 13th minute before substitute striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri added a brace in the 48th and 60th minutes.
Substitute A. Thamil Arasu scored the fourth for Tigers in the 71 minute.
The Mariners earned a consolation goal five minutes from time through Ben Jurman.
Kim Swee mixed and matched his team with defenders Mahalli Jasuli, Fadhli Shas, Amer Saidin and Zubir Azmi lining up in front of keeper Mohd Izham Tarmizi.
K. Gurusamy combined with Mohd Affize Faisal Mamat in midfield as Wan Zack Haikal Wan Noor and Fandi Othman operated on the flanks in support of forwards Muhd Nazmi Faiz Mansor and Ahmad Fakri.
"My players combined well and were disciplined throughout the match. They played to their strength in every department.
"I hope this victory over a team who lead the A-League standings, will help them improve their confidence.
"A great way to end our season but my players need to work harder as they still lack in some areas," added Kim Swee.
The team will return to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow and will resume training on Jan 3 in preparing for their debut in the Singapore league.
The 22-year-old earned many admirers in Australia when he impressed in the Tigers' 4-1 victory over A-League leaders Central Coast Mariners at the Mingara Athletics Track in Central Coast yesterday.
Coach Ong Kim Swee said Mariners coach Graham Arnold praised Ahmad Fakri after the match.
"Ahmad Fakri played one of his best matches of the season today (yesterday). He almost single-handedly earned our team this victory," said Kim Swee when contacted yesterday.
"Arnold congratulated him after the final whistle. He, however, needs to be consistent if he hopes to go far.
"Ahmad Fakri is starting to get his form back after a slow start to the season. I hope to see him get better."
The Mariners again fielded a mix of senior A-League and youth players, just as they did in their 1-0 win over the Tigers four days ago but the national Under-22 side were better prepared yesterday.
Ahmad Fakri opened accounts in the 13th minute before substitute striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri added a brace in the 48th and 60th minutes.
Substitute A. Thamil Arasu scored the fourth for Tigers in the 71 minute.
The Mariners earned a consolation goal five minutes from time through Ben Jurman.
Kim Swee mixed and matched his team with defenders Mahalli Jasuli, Fadhli Shas, Amer Saidin and Zubir Azmi lining up in front of keeper Mohd Izham Tarmizi.
K. Gurusamy combined with Mohd Affize Faisal Mamat in midfield as Wan Zack Haikal Wan Noor and Fandi Othman operated on the flanks in support of forwards Muhd Nazmi Faiz Mansor and Ahmad Fakri.
"My players combined well and were disciplined throughout the match. They played to their strength in every department.
"I hope this victory over a team who lead the A-League standings, will help them improve their confidence.
"A great way to end our season but my players need to work harder as they still lack in some areas," added Kim Swee.
The team will return to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow and will resume training on Jan 3 in preparing for their debut in the Singapore league.
Perlis win Under-12 football tournament on penaty shootout
Dark horses Perlis beat Kelantan 4-3 on sudden death penalties to win the inaugural Champion of Champions Under-12 football tournament at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Muar on Sunday.
Kelantan striker Ahmad Tasnim Nasir’s failure to score the first sudden death penalty proved costly as Perlis’ Muhammad Akmal Salleh then converted his spotkick to secure the trophy for the northern state.
The final went into a shootout after both teams failed to score any goals during the regulation period. In the shootout, Perlis and Kelantan were tied 3-3 after failing to convert two penalties apiece from the five spotkicks awarded.
Champions Perlis took home RM10,000, while runners-up Kelantan walked away with RM7,500.
Early favourites Kedah gained some consolation after defeating Penang 2-0 in the third placing playoff. Kedah went home with RM5,000 for their efforts while Penang received RM2,500.
The eight-team Champion of Champions tournament was organised by the National Football Development Committee, which was formed by the government under the guidance of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Education, the National Sports Council (NSC) and the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
Prior to the eight-team Champion of Champions Finals in Muar, a qualifying tournament comprising 14 teams was held in Perak.
Kelantan striker Ahmad Tasnim Nasir’s failure to score the first sudden death penalty proved costly as Perlis’ Muhammad Akmal Salleh then converted his spotkick to secure the trophy for the northern state.
The final went into a shootout after both teams failed to score any goals during the regulation period. In the shootout, Perlis and Kelantan were tied 3-3 after failing to convert two penalties apiece from the five spotkicks awarded.
Champions Perlis took home RM10,000, while runners-up Kelantan walked away with RM7,500.
Early favourites Kedah gained some consolation after defeating Penang 2-0 in the third placing playoff. Kedah went home with RM5,000 for their efforts while Penang received RM2,500.
The eight-team Champion of Champions tournament was organised by the National Football Development Committee, which was formed by the government under the guidance of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Education, the National Sports Council (NSC) and the FA of Malaysia (FAM).
Prior to the eight-team Champion of Champions Finals in Muar, a qualifying tournament comprising 14 teams was held in Perak.
Olympic squad get convincing win over Australian club in friendly
National Under-23 football team coach Ong Kim Swee has described the three-match tour of Australia as a success after watching his side take apart A–League’s Central Coast Mariners 4-1 in their final friendly yesterday.
Labuan–born striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri was the hero for the Malaysian side, bagging a brace in the 48th and 60th minutes at the Mingara Athletics Track in Tumbi Umbi, New South Wales.
Much–maligned strikers Ahmad Fakri Saarani and A. Thamil Arasu also got on the scoresheet in the 13th and 71st minutes respectively.
The Mariners managed to score a consolation goal through midfielder Ben Jurman five minutes from the end.
Kim Swee’s boys had earlier opened their Australian tour with a 3-0 victory over Sydney FC last Tuesday before going down 1-0 to the Mariners a day later.
They took on the Mariners again yesterday after Newcastle Jets, who were originally slated to take on the Malaysians in the third friendly, were unable to fulfil their commitments.
Kim Swee said he was happy to end a memorable year with a positive display from the team.
“We had a good workout and the players showed tremendous improvement from the earlier clash against the Central Coast Mariners. The 4-1 win was our best performance in Australia,” said Kim Swee, who guided the Under-23 side to retain the SEA Games football gold medal in Indonesia last month.
“The Central Coast Mariners fielded an almost identical line-up to the one who defeated us 1-0 last week. But my boys showed that they have learnt their lessons well and we played to our strengths.
“The team played positive football against tougher opponents and I’m very happy to end 2011 on a winning note.”
The trip Down Under also solved the team’s striking woes as Kuala Lumpur striker Hazwan, who missed the SEA Games and most of the M-League action this year through injuries, netted four goals in three matches.
“Hazwan proved that he can be prolific in front of goal, while the other strikers – Fakri and Thamil – also scored in Australia,” said Kim Swee.
“I’m not saying it just to please my players, but Fakri’s much–improved performance and workrate were even praised by Central Coast Mariner’s head coach Graham Arnold, who had been Guus Hiddink’s assistant during his stint as the Socceroos’ head coach.”
The team will return today and will be given a two–week break before regrouping on Jan 3.
The Under-23 side will play a friendly against the Saudi Arabian Under-23 side on Jan 31 before meeting Bahrain in the Asian Zone Olympic final round qualifier on Feb 5.
Labuan–born striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri was the hero for the Malaysian side, bagging a brace in the 48th and 60th minutes at the Mingara Athletics Track in Tumbi Umbi, New South Wales.
Much–maligned strikers Ahmad Fakri Saarani and A. Thamil Arasu also got on the scoresheet in the 13th and 71st minutes respectively.
The Mariners managed to score a consolation goal through midfielder Ben Jurman five minutes from the end.
Kim Swee’s boys had earlier opened their Australian tour with a 3-0 victory over Sydney FC last Tuesday before going down 1-0 to the Mariners a day later.
They took on the Mariners again yesterday after Newcastle Jets, who were originally slated to take on the Malaysians in the third friendly, were unable to fulfil their commitments.
Kim Swee said he was happy to end a memorable year with a positive display from the team.
“We had a good workout and the players showed tremendous improvement from the earlier clash against the Central Coast Mariners. The 4-1 win was our best performance in Australia,” said Kim Swee, who guided the Under-23 side to retain the SEA Games football gold medal in Indonesia last month.
“The Central Coast Mariners fielded an almost identical line-up to the one who defeated us 1-0 last week. But my boys showed that they have learnt their lessons well and we played to our strengths.
“The team played positive football against tougher opponents and I’m very happy to end 2011 on a winning note.”
The trip Down Under also solved the team’s striking woes as Kuala Lumpur striker Hazwan, who missed the SEA Games and most of the M-League action this year through injuries, netted four goals in three matches.
“Hazwan proved that he can be prolific in front of goal, while the other strikers – Fakri and Thamil – also scored in Australia,” said Kim Swee.
“I’m not saying it just to please my players, but Fakri’s much–improved performance and workrate were even praised by Central Coast Mariner’s head coach Graham Arnold, who had been Guus Hiddink’s assistant during his stint as the Socceroos’ head coach.”
The team will return today and will be given a two–week break before regrouping on Jan 3.
The Under-23 side will play a friendly against the Saudi Arabian Under-23 side on Jan 31 before meeting Bahrain in the Asian Zone Olympic final round qualifier on Feb 5.
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