PETALING JAYA: The bulk of the players in the team for the Laos SEA Games are likely to be from the Harimau Muda national Under-19 squad.
The FA of Malaysia (FAM) general secretary, Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad, said that Malaysia would field a young team for the Games in December and only a handful of players from the present national side were eligible to feature in the Under-23 tournament.
“We have identified about eight players from the senior team and the others should come from the Harimau Muda squad,” said Azzuddin yesterday after a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the FAM and the Youth and Sports Ministry, who will manage Harimau Muda.
Azzuddin also said that the coaches for the national and the SEA Games teams will be announced at the FAM Council meeting on April 11. Harimau Muda coach K. Rajagopal is tipped to handle the team for the Games. His boys are currently the Premier League leaders.
“My contract states that I have to assume this position (caretaker national coach) if the need arises. I don’t make promises but I will give my best shot despite the limited resources,” said Rajagopal. Harimau Muda’s campaign in the Premier League ends on July 27.
“The present team have players between the ages of 17 and 19. Ideally, they should be ready for the 2011 SEA Games,” said Rajagopal.
“These boys, I strongly feel, should be promoted to play in the top flight Super League next year and from the exposures they get from domestic and other international matches, we should be able to make a strong claim for honour in the 2011 Games.”
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that they would provide all the financial support to the Harimau Muda, including for overseas exposures, beginning with a one-month stint in Croatia after the Premier League competition.
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