KUALA LUMPUR – Time is ticking for national U-22 head coach E. Elavarasan as the final selection camp is underway for him to pick 20 players to represent the country at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia next week.
Elavarasan said the potential squad will comprise the team that won the Merlion Cup last month, with several other call-ups.
“Our selection process this year is different from the last SEA Games because this time, we have three stages of selection camps.
“Some players just came in yesterday, so they are still going through their recovery. But even though they arrived late, they know what is expected of them and what we are asking for,” he said at the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) training ground today.
The Harimau Muda’s last campaign at the Hanoi SEA Games ended in the semifinals after losing to champions Vietnam.
At that time, the national U-22 squad was under the leadership of Brad Maloney, who was released by FAM on mutual agreement in July 2022 after spending eight years with the junior squad.
This time, the national U-22 team is drawn into the “Group of Death”, with defending champions Vietnam, 16-time champions Thailand, Singapore, and Laos in Group B.
Having played under the previous head coach and now fighting for a spot in the team under Elavarasan, Terengganu left-back Muhammad Safwan Mazlan said that adapting to different coaching styles is nothing out of the ordinary.
“It is not difficult to adapt to a different style as this is normal for a football player. We will do our best and give what the coach wants and expects out of us.
“I’m thankful for the call-up in the last round of selections, I don’t want to waste this opportunity. I want to do better than last year as this is my second SEA Games,” he said.
In Phnom Penh, Malaysia open their Group B campaign against Laos on May 3, followed by Thailand on May 6, Vietnam on May 8, and Singapore on May 11. – The Vibes, April 29, 2023
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