PETALING JAYA – Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin has set high expectations for the national under-16 team, demanding they reach the final of the upcoming AFF U16 Boys’ Championship.
Under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Javier Jorda Ribera and team manager Christopher Raj, Malaysia are drawn in Group C alongside Thailand, East Timor, and Australia for the 19th edition of the tournament.
It will take place in Surakarta, Indonesia, from June 21 to July 4.
Spanish coach Javier selected 23 players after assessing 161 candidates from various states and clubs since coming on board in May this year.
In the previous edition, also held in Indonesia, Malaysia’s under-16s were eliminated in the group stage.
Hamidin said that Javier’s charges, primarily consisting of players from the Akademi Mokhtar Dahari (AMD) and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT), must prioritise playing for the country over any club or state loyalties.
He also said that the under-16 players and their management should not view this tournament merely as a platform for gaining experience.
“I don’t care if the boys are from AMD or JDT. When you play for the national team, you must set aside club and state alliances and proudly wear the iconic black and yellow jersey.
“Players need to play as a unit and fight as a team. I want the team to reach the final. We should not be there just to gain exposure.
“Our level is on par with the best, especially in the U16 category,” said Hamidin when met at the U16 players and coaches introduction session today.
Hamidin also highlighted the importance of effort and commitment, referencing the dedication shown by teams like Vietnam and Indonesia.
“Statistics show we are more skilful and better compared to other teams. We need to match or surpass the effort of our regional counterparts, who show 500% commitment.”
He urged the team to have ambitions and stressed the importance of pushing themselves beyond previous failures.
“The last time we failed, and this time we need to push ourselves. There’s no point in us going all the way there without having dreams of achieving anything.
“We must have ambitions. My minimum expectation is to see them play in the final, and I will travel to Surakarta to watch them.”
Hamidin also emphasised the tournament’s role in preparation for the FIFA U17 World Cup qualifiers in Qatar next year.
From 2025 onward, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will have nine slots in the FIFA U17 World Cup and four in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, enhancing opportunities for Asian teams.
“This is our closest chance to reach the World Cup. We need to take advantage of the slots granted by the AFC from FIFA.
“We have the chance to make history by achieving this feat. Hence, this is the first test for our players to build a formidable future team,” Hamidin added.
AMD, established in 2014 to produce top local football talent, has been the main contributor (90%) of players for the national U16s.
The academy is funded by the government and overseen by the National Sports Council, while FAM is part of the steering committee. – June 19, 2024 `