Success brings rewards and the National Under-23 team was duly rewarded for qualifying for the AFC Under-23 Championships in China next year.
Each player received RM25,000 from the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for their efforts in making the Finals. The RM25,000 is in addition to the RM6,000 each received from the national football body.
The latest monetary rewards comes from the RM4 million the FAM received from Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar gave to the FAM for the team’s success in qualifying for the Finals.
Malaysia topped Group H qualifier in Bangkok last month against the likes of Thailand and Indonesia. The other team in the group was Mongolia.
Malaysia upset Indonesia 3-0 in their first match but lost to Thailand by a similar margin in their second match. Indonesia held Thailand to a scoreless draw in their match while Malaysia beat Mongolia 2-0 to finish on top.
FAM president Brigadier General Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who is also the crown prince of Johor, has promised the team more monetary rewards if Malaysia can win the football gold in the 29th Sea Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Monetary rewards are also in the pipeline for the women’s football team and futsal teams.
Brig Gen Tunku Ismail, however, is aware that Thailand and Indonesia are sending strong teams to the Sea Games to win the gold medal – dubbed the “Mother of all Golds” in the biennial games.
Malaysia won the football gold in the 2009 Sea Games in Laos and retained it in Indonesia in 2011.
The National Under-23 team in this year’s Sea Games is drawn Group A and have Brunei, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos for company.
Malaysia open their campaign against Brunei on Aug 14 and will play Singapore on Aug 16 followed by Myanmar (Aug 21) and Laos (23). – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
