20 women to represent M’sia in SEA Games football
KOTA KINABALU: The Kuala Lumpur SEA Games-bound national women football squad will be finalised after playing against South Asia champions India at the end of the month.
Head coach Mohd Asyraaf Fong Abdullah said the 25-member squad would play against India on July 29 and July 31 at Universiti Malaya Stadium before he names the 20 footballers going for the region’s premier multi sports event in August.
“Five players will be dropped from the final squad that will carry the country’s challenge in the SEA Games,” he texted yesterday.
The players currently in training are goalkeepers Asma Junaidi, Roszaini Bakar, Nurul Azurin Mazlan; defenders Nurul Husna Mohd Nazri, Nurathirah Farhanah Zairi, Malini Nordin, Mira Fazliana Aidil, Marcella Angela Parais, Shereilynn Elly, Usliza Usman, Nabila Naim; midfielders Nur Shazwina Shuib, Jaciah Jumilis, Masturah Majid, Haindee Mosroh, Norsuriani Mazli, Dadree Rofinus, Eslilah Esar, Nor Athirah Mamat, Norshahira Suhaime and strikers Nur Haniza Saarani, Puteri Noralisa Wilkinson, JI. Fedalliah Claritta Jaimin, Siti Rohani Saptu and Angela Kais.
Commenting on the squad’s preparation, Asyraaf said the team are into the final phase of centralised training at the Nasional Sports Complex Jeonsa in Kuala Lumpur since July 3.
He said the finalised SEA Games squad will have one more friendly game against Singapore on August 9 as part of the preparation to face the tournament on home soil.
“It will be our last game prior to SEA Games. It is more of a familiarisation game but one that is very important since UiTM Stadium where the match will take place will be one of the venues for women’s football in the Games,” he added.
Women football fixtures for SEA Games are expected to start on August 15.
For the record, the national women’s football squad is eyeing a bronze medal in the SEA Games.
Malaysia women’s team will face the likes of reigning gold medallist Thailand and fellow ASEAN powerhouses such as Vietnam, Myanmar and the Philippines in the Games.