PHNOM PENH, May 2 — The national men’s under 22 (U-22) squad is expected to face a difficult battle in their first Group B match against Laos tomorrow at the 2023 SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Head coach E. Elavarasan hinted that Laos will be going all out after suffering a 0 – 2 loss to Vietnam at Prince Stadium on Sunday (April 30).
“As Laos has lost their first game, they will, of course, have to make a comeback in the second game and I believe it is gonna be tough for us.
“Despite the defeat to Vietnam, I could see that Laos actually played well, they were just unlucky in their counterattacks,” he told Bernama upon arrival at Phnom Penh International Airport, earlier today.
At the same time, Elavarasan was tight-lipped on his strategy apart from declining to comment on the opponents’ players who would be the major threat to his boys at Olympic Stadium tomorrow.
Meanwhile, national women’s football squad head coach Soleen Al-Zoubi told a pre-match press conference that all players are mentally ready ahead of their first Group A task against Vietnam, at the Army Stadium tomorrow.
The Jordanian was also elated to be the only woman coach in the event and hoped that it will inspire more women to take part in football be it as coaches, players, referees or even administrative staff.
After Vietnam, the Malayan Tigress will take on the Philippines on Saturday (May 6), and Myanmar on Tuesday (May 9).
If the national women’s football squad manages to pass the group stage, they will play in the semi-finals on May 12 and the final and the third or fourth-place decider will take place on May 15.
In the Hanoi edition in Vietnam, Malaysia did not send a women’s football team for the event.
— Bernama
