IN one of the toughest age-group qualifiers, only Vietnam, Australia and Thailand (host) have qualified from Asean for the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Under 23 Finals in Bangkok next January.
Sixteen countries have qualified, including host Thailand, and Malaysia and Singapore were unfortunate not to be among those who made the cut despite finishing their group matches undefeated.
The Bangkok tournament will then decide the AFC qualifiers for the 2020 Olympic Games tournament in Japan.
For the Young Harimaus, coach Ong Kim Swee will be disappointed after garnering seven points, the same as China. But China, coached by the world-famous Holland tactician Guus Hiddink, made the cut as group champions.
The Harimaus drew 2-2 with China in the final match after beating Philippines (3-0) and Laos (1-0).
For the Young Lions, under Fandi Ahmad, five points was just not good enough in the qualifiers in the blistering cold Mongolia and finished second to North Korea. The Lions paid a heavy price for the opening 1-1 draw against Hong Kong and went on to hold North Korea 1-1 and winning 3-1 against host Mongolia.
Tough competition with 44 teams in Asia’s West Zone (24 teams from West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia were drawn into six groups of four teams: Groups A–F). From Asia’s East Zone (20 teams from Asean and East Asia who played in five groups of four teams: Groups G–K).
FANDI IS ‘SATISFIED’
Despite bowing out in a close call, Fandi expressed satisfaction with how the Young Lions fared in the campaign, saying: “It all went very well even though we had to encounter a series of difficulties, especially in weather and playing conditions. The teamwork is there, the coaching staff are very together, the camaraderie is very good.
“We didn’t qualify but, most importantly, we gave our all. That’s the most critical criteria. The boys sacrificed a lot and to finish second in the group, without a defeat, is something that has never happened in this age group.”
In three previous editions of the AFC U-23 Championship in 2013, 2016 and 2018, the Lions had never reached the finals and suffered at least a defeat in each qualifying campaign and never finished higher than third in their group.
FATHER-SONS COMBINATION
Fandi’s two sons, Irfan and Ikhsan, 21 and 19 respectively, played in the tournament, in the first father-sons’ combination probably anywhere in the world.
Fandi, the first Singaporean to play professional football in Europe with FC Groningen from 1983-1985, adds: “My sons were selected on merit and never on relationship. They work even harder to prove that they can match with their contemporaries.
“We’re just happy that the Lions came back with good fighting spirit and good discipline. I know these Mongolian players are fighters, they fought very hard and they are good players and a hard-working team.”
For the Young Lions, they have another major assignment this year in November’s SEA (South-east Asia) Games and Fandi hopes that he can mould them into a unit that can possibly make it to the finals.
He says: “The standard in Asean youth football is getting higher and higher. But I’m not worried because we’ve a good disciplined team that we have to keep together. The coaching staff are very satisfied with the performance of the players.”
ONG KIM SWEE
For Malaysia’s Ong Kim Swee it is back to the drawing boards but the Young Harimaus drew praise from Hiddink for their “very gutsy fighting spirit”.
“We expected a huge resistance because we have seen Malaysia play and they are a very skilful team. It turned out to be a difficult game for us and a good experience for my team as it will be a closer tie than our last two,” says the 72-year-old Hiddink, tasked with leading the China U-23 side to even next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.
Hiddink, the widely-respected Dutch coach has a glorious track record in coaching national teams, leading both Holland and South Korea to the top four in 1998 World Cup and 2002 World Cup respectively.
Moreover, he got good results in European clubs such as Eindhoven, Real Madrid and Chelsea as his strict coaching style made him well-received in several youth teams.
He says: “China would like to qualify for the Olympic Games. The goal is to participate in Tokyo 2020. The last time China qualified, was in 2008, so the desire is high. The Chinese Football Association (CFA) must think of a way to create more competitions because it would help their football development in the future.”
Here are the 16 countries who have qualified for the AFC Under 23 Finals to be held in Bangkok next January: Thailand (host), Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Uzbekistan, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, Australia, Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia. – By SURESH NAIR.
?Suresh Nair is a Singapore-based sports journalist who covers regional football news.
