Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka take on Malaysia today

- BY SANDUN KODITHUWAK­KU

We have been progressin­g well during the last few months and I hope the players are in a better frame of mind to face their strong opponents

A 23-man squad has been selected by the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) to play against Malaysia.

The match will take place today at 6.45pm at the Suagathada­sa Stadium.

The squad includes five players from Colombo FC, four from Army SC and four from Renown SC while Subash Madushan (Navy SC) has been appointed as the captain of the squad.

Sri Lanka Coach Rumy Pakeerali believes his young but talented side would come out with a good performanc­e in front of their home crowd, “We have been progressin­g well during the last few months and I hope the players are in a better frame of mind to face their strong opponents.”

Pakeerali also said, “I believe the internatio­nal exposure they had while paying against Lithuania, Bangladesh and the Maldives will certainly be an added advantage and I hope the players will carry that form into the next level and be more aggressive in their approach rather than playing a customary defensive game,” adding, “No doubt Malayasia are in a higher position in the FIFA ranking but I hope those statistics would not affect the performanc­e of the Sri Lanka Team,” he said.

THE SQUADS Sri Lanka

Subash Madushan (Captain), Yogendran Dickson Puslas, Anurudha Warakagoda, Jude Supan, Charith Rathnayake, Nicholas Fernando, Udaya Keerthi Kumara, Sajith Mendis, Mohamed Rifnaz, Afeel Mohamed, A. Rahman, Mariyathas Nitharsan, Kavindu Ishan, Sasanga Jayasekara, Dilan De Silva, M.M.M. Mustaq, Jeevantha Fernando, Naizer Fazal, Asela Madushan, Shabeer Razooniya, Razik Rishad, Sujan Perera, Danushka Rajapaksha.

Malaysia

Muhammad Haziq Nadzli, Mathew Davies, Shahrul Mohd Saad, Fazly Mazlan, Adam Nor Azlin, Mohd Nor Hakim Hassan, Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid, Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abd Razak (Captain), Norshahrul­idlan Talaha, Muhammad Shahrel Fikri, Mohamadou Sumareh, Amirul Azhan Aznan, Mohamed Syamer Kutty Abba, Kenny Pallraj Davaragi, Mohd Syazwan Zainon, Muhammad Irfan Zakaria, Mahalli Jasuli, Muhammad Syahmi Safari, Mohd Azzizan Nordin, Muhammad Syazwan Andik Mohd Ishak, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Muhammad Hafizul Hakim Khairul

 ??  ?? Sri Lanka coach Rumy Pakeerali speaking at the press conference
Sri Lanka coach Rumy Pakeerali speaking at the press conference

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Sri Lanka