PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian youth team headed for the AFF Under-16 Cup have a lofty target - they have to reach the final.
“This is the AFF Cup, at this stage the minimum goal is to enter the final,” said Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
At the tournament in Surakarta, Indonesia from June 21-July 4, the Under-16 squad led by Spanish coach Javier Ribera are in Group C with Thailand, Timor Leste, and Australia.
“It doesn’t matter who you face, if we have the dream to enter the World Cup or top the Asian Cup, these are the teams you have to get through in a few years’ time,” Hamidin told the 23 players who will be departing to Indonesia today.
The squad, narrowed down from 160 players, consists mostly of those from the Akademi Mokhtar Dahari (AMD) and Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Academy.
Ribera, who was previously the JDT III coach, remains realistic about what the team can achieve in Indonesia.
“I want to see the players being able to compete at international level and challenge other strong teams in the group such as Australia.
“The target is also to have a level of performance to compete in tournaments after the AFF Cup,” he said.
Ribera said the Asean level tournament will also be used as preparation for the 2025 Under-17 Asian Cup qualifiers in October in Laos.
“The biggest target we have is for the Asian Cup qualifiers, so this is the time for us to see what is lacking,” he said.
Having been in Malaysia since 2017, Ribera added that he is familiar with most of the youngsters as he has been keeping an eye on their development.
“On the technical side of things, the players’ style is based on the programmes they have been following at AMD and JDT, and it has been working.
“We’re looking to play more offensive movements and to maximise taking shots.
“If we lose the ball, the players need to bounce back and regain possession quickly.
“I don’t like to be in a comfort zone. It’s a long journey for these players which will be filled with good and bad times, injuries, and illnesses, but they have to try their very best,” he said.
The Under-16 team will start their campaign in Indonesia against Timor Leste on Sunday (June 23), followed by Australia (June 26) and Thailand (June 29).
