KUALA LUMPUR – Defending champions Malaysia have received a favourable draw and can expect a trouble-free passage into the knockout rounds of the 2024 Asean Under-19 Football Championship in Surabaya, Indonesia in July.
In yesterday’s draw, Malaysia, coached by Juan Torres Garrido, have been placed in Group C with five-time champions Thailand, Singapore and Brunei.
In the previous edition, Thailand ended up in fourth spot while Singapore and Brunei crashed out in the group stage.
Laos, runners-up in the previous edition, have been drawn in Group B, the “Group of Death”, as they will come up against 2007 champions Vietnam, two-time champions Myanmar and five-time champions Australia.
Hosts Indonesia, the 2013 champions, have been drawn in Group A with Timor Leste, Cambodia and the Philippines.
The national U19 side won the title for the first time under coach Bojan Hodak in 2018 before Hassan Sazali Waras guided them to the second title four years later.
The Asean Under-19 Championship, previously known as the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-19 Championship, will be held in Surabaya on July 17 to 29.
Meanwhile, FAM said in a statement yesterday that Garrido has listed 36 players to attend the Harimau Malaya U19 centralised training camp from Sunday (June 2) in preparation for the Surabaya tournament.
“The Harimau Malaya U19 squad will undergo centralised training until June 8 at Akademi Mokhtar Dahari in Gambang before continuing their training at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil on June 9 to 11,” the statement added.
In a separate draw, the Harimau Malaya U16 team, under coach Javier Jorda Ribera, have been placed in Group C with Thailand, Timor Leste and Australia for the 2024 Asean Under-16 Championship in Surakarta, Indonesia on June 21 to July 4. – May 31, 2024