Read Time:2 Minute, 28 Second
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) has announced its final squad of 20 players for both the Under-22 Men’s and Women’s National Team.
The Men’s team led by Head Coach Philippe Aw will feature five players who had featured in the previous year’s SEA Games, including Jordan Emaviwe and team captain Harhys Stewart. Lion City Sailors’ Abdul Rasaq is expected to lead the frontline, having chalked up five goals in eight games in the on-going
domestic Singapore Premier League (SPL), as he look to continue his good form on the international stage.
Who misses out?
The final selection was trimmed from a provisional squad of 25 players, with keeper Umayr Sujuandy, Raoul Suhaimi, Amir Syafiz and Iman Hakim from Young Lions missing out, alongside Tampines’ Ong Yu En.
Aw added that, “The final 20 players were chosen as they had displayed great commitment, hunger and discipline throughout the centralized training. Most importantly, they were also chosen based on our tactics and game plan in mind”
Group of Death
The Men’s team will depart to Phnom Penh, Cambodia on 28 April 2023 and commence their first match in the Group B fixture against Thailand on 30 April 2023 at Prince Stadium, Cambodia. They will then face off with the remaining countries, Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, the bulk of the Women’s Team will be made up of players from the Lion City Sailors – with 11 players from the Singapore Women’s Premier League (SGWPL) making the squad.
(@lioncitysailors.fc)
History Makers
Many of the players that made the cut had also made their historic debut in the 31st SEA Games last year in Vietnam, when they achieved their first win at the SEA Games since 1985. They will be joined by the overseas-based players Putri Syaliza and Danelle Tan.
Nicole Lim, who currently plays for the University of Edinburgh football team, has been called for her first international duty of the year, and will follow the team to Cambodia. Notably, three players – Sitianiwati Rosielin, Lila Tan and Raudhah Kamis – will be making their first SEA Games appearance this year.
Women’s National Team Head Coach, Karim Bencherifa said, “The squad is a balanced mix of players who has international experience from playing in overseas clubs, senior players who have had multiple opportunities in representing the country, as well as young players who possess youthful exuberance.”
“I am hopeful that the team possesses all the necessary ingredients to execute our plan in Cambodia, including quality players, high level of fitness, good strategies, and great team spirit”.
The Lionesses will travel to Cambodia on 30 April 2023 and begin their Group B campaign 3 days later. Laos and Cambodia make up the other teams in the group.
All of Singapore’s matches will be streamed live on Mediacorp’s meWATCH platform.
