Mission begins: National Under-23 team leaving for Jakarta yesterday. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: A taste of football abroad has given youngster Mohamad Abu Khalil the edge he needs and now he is ready to help Malaysia chase glory at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship in Indonesia starting tomorrow.
The 20-year-old midfielder, who had stints with Japan’s third division club FC Osaka and Thai League 1’s Nakhon Pathom United last year, said the experience has been vital to elevating his game.
“My time spent in Japan and Thailand has been beneficial for me as it has matured my style of play.
“We want to win the title, that is our target,” he said before the team departed for Jakarta yesterday.
Drawn in Group A, Malaysia will start their campaign against the Philippines on Tuesday, before taking on Brunei on July 18 and hosts Indonesia on July 21.
Group B has Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, while Group C consists of Thailand, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.
Mohamad Abu Khalil
Mohamad knows the first match against the Philippines will be important to set the tone within the team, but is confident the squad’s chemistry will see them perform well.
“The players know each other well, as many come from the JDT Academy and AMD (Akademi Mokhtar Dahari), so now we are united again.
“The team have been working well together and knows what the coach wants from the team,” he said.
Meanwhile, head coach Nafuzi Zain also emphasised that the opening fixture against the Philippines is the top priority.
“Even with a win, it won’t guarantee anything, but it would help us get closer to our goal,” said Nafuzi.
“The players are in good physical condition, but their mental strength is also important. This is a real test for the team because expectations are high.”
The squad have a target of reaching the semi-finals, as the top two teams of each group will advance to the knockout stage.
He had set the semi-finals as a minimum target for the team, and knows the clash against Indonesia will be the toughest hurdle.
Malaysia’s best finish is a fourth placing at the last edition in 2023 Thailand.
