It gets complicated for Malaysia with UAE in the group
KUALA LUMPUR: The national Under-23 football squad face a more tortuous path at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were included in Group E at the event’s redraw at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
The redraw also left the hosts Indonesia, in Group A, facing a new challenge with the inclusion of Palestine.
Palestine are drawn in Group A with Hong Kong, Laos, Taiwan and Indonesia while the UAE will be in Group E with defending champions South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Bahrain and Malaysia.
Both Indonesia and Malaysia now have to play an extra match in the group stage.
AFC secretary-general Datuk Windsor Paul John said that Palestine and the UAE protested that they were left out of the draw although both teams have confirmed their participation before the deadline.
“We did not make a new draw for all the 26 teams but we helped the Olympic Council of Asia by making a draw just to determine which groups Palestine and the UAE will be drawn into,” said Windsor.
Malaysia team manager Datuk Yusoff Mahadi said that his Under-23 team face a tough mission with the inclusion of the UAE in their group.
“UAE are a strong team and they can challenge any team in the Games to win the gold.
“However, we’re not giving any excuses as the draw has already been made.
“I want my players to take the challenge of facing the UAE.
“The players should unite and not give up. “They should look at their success in the reaching the quarter-finals of the AFC Under23 tournament in China in January.
“Reaching that quarter-finals should motivate and remind them that nothing is impossible,” said Yusoff.
Football Association of Indonesia secretary-general Ratu Tisha Destria, who witnessed the draw yesterday, said that it was a pity that hosts Indonesia and Malaysia have to play an extra match in the Asian Games.
“Playing an extra match will add more pressure on both the teams.
“With 26 teams competing, we have to bring forward the schedule from Aug 14 to Aug 10.
“The two groups with five teams will kick off the competition on Aug 10 while groups with four teams will only start their campaign on Aug 14,” said Ratu Tisha.
Group B comprises Thailand, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh and Qatar while Iraq, China, Timor Leste and Syria are drawn in Group C.
Japan, Vietnam, Pakistan and Nepal are in Group D and Group F comprises North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Myanmar.