The national U-22 football team have started prepping for the impending 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games in August.
Under national U-22 head coach, Datuk Ong Kim Swee, the team will shoulder a huge responsibility to make it to the final, especially since Malaysia is the host for the SEA Games this year.
The team have been training at the Wisma FAM, and they will soon make their way to China to participate in a few international friendlies to keep their momentum going.
The national U-22 team will face the China under-22 squad, Guangzhou R&F reserve squad and the Guangzhou Evergrande reserve team from June 6 until June 13.
Team manager, Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi has told the team that they have to make it to the final to avoid disappointing football fans in the country and so Malaysia can be featured on the last night.
“It is a heavy responsibility for the team playing on their own turf. My target is for them to enter the final so that Malaysia will be featured on the last night.” Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi told Bernama.
“It will be very unfortunate if we are not in action and the disappointment will be felt by all supporters in the country.”
“After coming back from China, there will be a change of players, we want to test players who did not go to China as only 22 players will be sent there. In our list, we have more than 40 players and we will test out all players.” he added.
Aside from China, the national U-22 squad have also scheduled friendlies against Melaka United just before their Raya break.
After the Raya break, the squad will start preparing for the U-23 AFC championships in Bangkok between July 19 and July 23 — before the SEA Games in August.
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