Singapore U-15s face tough challenge at AFC qualifiers

SINGAPORE – Courage, and a dose of luck, will be key for the Singapore Under-15 football team as they kick off their Group H campaign in the qualifiers for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship against Thailand at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Sept 2.

Aside from their opening match against the Asean Football Federation (AFF) U-16 champions, Singapore will also face North Korea — the defending AFC U-16 champions — on Friday, before taking on Cambodia two days later. The top team from each of the 11 groups, and the four best runners-up, will qualify for the final tournament in India from Sep 15 to Oct 2.

Singapore U-15 coach V Selvaraj is under no illusions that it will be an easy task ahead for the team.

“Of course, luck plays a big part. And I would say heart too,” he said today (Aug 31). “We need to have a big heart, that kind of mentality to (be able to) fight against these opponents, no matter how big or how strong they are.

“We have studied these opponents, and know what they are capable of. The Thais are fast, and technically, also better players. They also make quick decisions. As for the North Koreans, they are stronger physically, and always stay their best in every tournament. Not forgetting the Cambodians too, (as) they have good individual qualities.

“It is a tough group, and surviving this group is challenging for us. But as long as my players achieve those objectives, I believe we are in for a chance.”

Singapore’s team list for the AFC qualifiers is only expected to be released later today, with the majority of the players to come from the Under-15 side that competed at the recent Lion City Cup. They had finished fourth out of four teams in the tournament, losing 3-0 to Tottenham Hotspur U-15 before a 3-2 defeat by the Singapore U-16s in the playoff for third spot.

National youth head coach Richard Tardy had called for improvements to the players’ physical fitness, technical ability and commitment after observing the U-15 and U-16 sides in action at the Lion City Cup. The AFC tournament will give the footballers a chance to sharpen their skills, and Selvaraj added: “We have definitely made some improvements, especially from the AFF U-16 Championship, and the Lion City Cup.

“Those two big tournaments have given us a big booster, (in terms of) showing us where we are at the moment, and how much we can improve. We have tried some things on the field in training sessions, and it is time to show it in this tournament.”