SEPANG: Head coach E. Elavarasan believes that the presence of four Super League players in the national Under-22 squad will give Harimau Muda an advantage in the ‘Group of Death’ at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
Despite being grouped with defending champions Vietnam and last edition’s runners-up Thailand in Group B, Elavarasan is confident that the team can perform well as all teams feature players of the same age.
Elavarasan expressed his confidence in the team’s chances to win the ‘mother of all medals’ at the biennial games, stating that the most crucial aspect of a team is its players.
He believes that the four Super League players, namely Sikh Izhan, Mukhairi Ajmal, Ubaidullah Shamsul, and Azam Azmi Murad, will serve as pillars for the Harimau Muda squad in this tournament campaign.
Speaking to reporters at Kuala Lumpur International Airport before departing for Cambodia with the Harimau Muda squad and the national contingent chef de mission (CDM) Datuk Mohd Nasir Ali, Elavarasan emphasized the importance of instilling a ‘must-win’ mentality in the team.
Harimau Muda will play their first match against Laos today, and goalkeeper Sikh is optimistic about the team’s chances of defeating Laos with a solid understanding among players.
If Harimau Muda makes it through the group stage, they will play in the semi-finals on May 13 before the final or for the third and fourth place on May 16.
Malaysia last won the men’s football gold in the 2011 edition in Jakarta, Indonesia, after defeating the hosts 4-3 on penalties.
However, they failed to repeat the feat when they lost 1-0 to Thailand in the final of the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, Mohd Nasir is optimistic that all national athletes are fully prepared to meet the target of 40 gold, 37 silver, and 64 bronze medals in Cambodia.
Coach Elavarasan is confident that the four Super League players will boost Harimau Muda’s performance in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, despite being grouped with defending champions Vietnam and last edition’s runners-up Thailand in Group B.
The team needs to instill a ‘must-win’ mentality when they play against Laos today, and goalkeeper Sikh believes that a solid understanding among players will give them an advantage.
