Overseas-based Adam and Kuzri selected for U-19 squad

Two overseas-based players have been called up for the first phase of training of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from Oct 13-31.

They are Mohd Adam Nadzmi Zamri of BISP Cruzeiro Football Academy and Wan Ahmad Kuzri Wan Ahmad Kamal of St. Louis Football Academy.

Adam is training with the Brazilian academy in Thailand while Kuzri is based in the United States.

Adam and Kuzri were two of the 35 trainees named by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) yesterday. The centralised training camp under coach Brad Maloney is from July 6-26 at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya.

Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) will have the most number of trainees with seven players, followed by Kedah and Selangor with five each.

Out of the 35 players selected, 14 of them played in the qualifiers in Phnom Penh last year.

In the qualifying tournament last year, Malaysia won all their matches in Group G as they beat Cambodia (5-4), Northern Mariana Islands (100), Brunei (11-0) and Thailand (1-0) to qualify.

Stalwarts from the qualifying tournament like goalkeepers Firdaus Irman Mohd Fadhil and Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman, defenders Azrin Afiq Rusmini and Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar, midfielder Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi and strikers Luqman Hakim Shamsudin and Ahmad Zikri Mohd Khalili however, will not be involved.

Malaysia have been handed an unfavourable draw for the tournament as they are pitted against Qatar, Tajikistan and Yemen in Group D.

Malaysia have finished runners-up thrice (1959,1960 and 1968) and third twice (1964 and 1965) and have qualified for the tournament 23 times.