SINGAPORE — There is only one more month to go before their SEA Games campaign gets underway, but the Singapore Under-22 footballers are not thinking about that yet.

Rather, Richard Tardy’s charges are focused on their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 qualifiers next week in Myanmar.

The Young Lions have been drawn in Group F against the hosts, as well as Australia and Brunei, with the winners sealing an automatic berth at the 2018 tournament in China. Five best runners-up will join 10 group winners and Tardy is hopeful of notching two wins from three games to qualify.

“We are going there to try and qualify,” he told TODAY before Tuesday’s (July 11) training session at Geylang Field.

“In terms of exposure, the U-23 qualifiers are very important (for development).

“Every competition is totally different and I say (for) now, (we should) only focus on the AFC matches and not talk about the SEA Games.”

Central defender Shahrin Saberin, who skippered the team during their 0-1 friendly loss to India on Sunday (July 9), added that the team is looking forward to the opener against Myanmar on July 19.

“For me, the AFC qualifiers are more important because it’s (a higher) international stage,” the Garena Young Lions player said.

“It’s the best platform to showcase our capabilities as a team and I think we can make something out of it.”

Tardy acknowledged the difficulty of the task, with the team having suffered poor results during the past year.

The U-22s have scored just once in their last seven friendlies — from a direct free-kick against Malaysia in March — and Tardy was unhappy with their most recent defeat to India, in which the team mustered their first shot at goal only after 83 minutes. He hopes they will do better in a rematch tonight (7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium).

“The problem in the team today is about confidence,” the Frenchman said. “Against India there was not a big gap, but I was not happy with performance in terms of quality.

“There was a disconnect between the defence and attack ... We must have this spirit to work towards scoring goals.

“I think in terms of fighting spirit they try to do their best, but sometimes they forget the international game is a very high level and they must perform from the first minute until the last.”

The 66-year-old did point out he has not had his ideal starting 11 available at any point during the past year, with only “six to seven” to call on to date, but hopes to have a full-strength side to call upon for the qualifiers.

Tardy is aware of the increasing criticism and pressure from football observers and supporters due to their lacklustre results, but called for more support instead.

“It is important for players to feel pressure but we need good pressure, not bad pressure,” he said.

“Players need more support from the crowd and fans even when they lose — there were more people encouraging India — and you must support your national team and young players because they are the future.”

But Tardy also called on his side to step up in a competitive environment.

“For me, when you are an U-22 side, you must mix the two (results and performances),” he said. “You can talk about performances (over results) for other age groups, but if some of these players want to prove they can make the senior national team, this is the moment to show (they can).”