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LionsXII on track for season opener

SINGAPORE — It may be more than two weeks since Fandi Ahmad became head coach of the LionsXII, but he has yet to work with all his 24 players.

Twelve of Singapore’s 20-man squad for the Myanmar SEA Games are from the LionsXII, including Shahfiq Ghani (centre), Safuwan Baharudin and Gabriel Quak. TODAY FILE PHOTO

Twelve of Singapore’s 20-man squad for the Myanmar SEA Games are from the LionsXII, including Shahfiq Ghani (centre), Safuwan Baharudin and Gabriel Quak. TODAY FILE PHOTO

SINGAPORE — It may be more than two weeks since Fandi Ahmad became head coach of the LionsXII, but he has yet to work with all his 24 players.

Due to the recent South-east Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar, where Singapore won the bronze medal, members of his squad involved in the biennial meet have been given an extended break and are not due to report back until this week.

But LionsXII team manager Visakan Subramaniam has dispelled the notion that the defending Malaysian Super League (MSL) champions would not be in their best shape going into the season opener against Malaysia Cup champions Pahang in Kuantan on Jan 17.

“Of course, the SEA Games has taken the players away, but the calendar is such,” he said.

“We faced the same situation before in 2012, where there was the Suzuki Cup which ended on Dec 22 and we played our opening Malaysian Super League match on Jan 9.

“The situation is better this year as we are only playing our opening match on Jan 17. This means we have eight days more to prepare.”

Twelve of Singapore’s 20-man squad for the Myanmar SEA Games — the football competition is an Under-23 one — are from the LionsXII, including goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, defenders Safuwan Baharudin, Faritz Hameed and Madhu Mohana, midfielders Hafiz Abu Sujad and Gabriel Quak, and forward Shahfiq Ghani.

The first test for Fandi, who was appointed successor to V Sundramoorthy as LionsXII head coach on Dec 7, and his assistant, former Singapore captain Nazri Nasir, is a friendly against S-League side Hougang United tomorrow before a three-match tour of Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from Jan 3 to 11.

“The three-match tour will give Fandi the chance to see his players close-up and what he intends to do as far as formations are concerned, or if reinforcements are required when the transfer window opens in February as we’ve room for two more players,” said Subramaniam.

With defender Baihakki Khaizan and midfielder Hariss Harun joining MSL rivals Johor Darul Takzim I, and forward Shahril Ishak moving to Malaysian Premier League side Johor Darul Takzim II, experienced figures such as Singapore internationals Isa Halim and Khairul Amri will have to shoulder more responsibility.

Indeed, Isa has been named the skipper for the LionsXII this season.

At the Myanmar Games, Singapore lost to eventual champions Thailand 1-0 in the semi-finals on Dec 19 before overcoming neighbours Malaysia 2-1 two days later in the bronze medal play-off in Napyidaw.

Although Singapore’s wait for that elusive first-ever gold medal in men’s football at the SEA Games continued, Subramaniam and Aide Iskandar, who coached Singapore at the SEA Games, believe the bronze medal could provide a crucial psychological boost for the LionsXII in this season’s MSL.

“It (winning the bronze) means a lot. It means that they know they are good enough to challenge at the highest level of ASEAN football and the M-League will just be as tough,” said Subramaniam.

Aide added: “Winning a medal will give their confidence a world of good in the long and gruelling M-League season ahead.

“Can you imagine if we had come home empty-handed or not even make the semi-finals. The players’ spirit would have been affected.”

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