AFC U16 Championship 2010 qualifiers

VIENTIANE (22 Feb 2009) – The road is tough for Laos and Timor Leste when they found themselves against difficult oppositions in the AFC U16 Championship 2010 qualifiers in October.

The Laotians, who held Australia in the last qualifiers in 2006, will once again cross swords against the side from Down Under where they will also have Malaysia for company in Group H.

With just three teams in the group, only the side which emerged at the top of the round of matches will qualify for the main draw.

On the other hand Timor Leste will be up against two-time winners China alongside Hong Kong and Macau with Singapore and Guam completing the Group F line up.

Thailand, the only ASEAN member to have won the AFC U16 crown will be against Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and the two Koreas in Group G.

Indonesia and Philippines will have to be at their best against a determined Japanese side eager for their AFC U16 title where they will also do battle against Mongolia, Chinese Taipei and Bangladesh in Group E of the qualifiers.

Only the group winner and runner-up of each of the seven six-team groups as well as the best third-place side overall will advance to the 2010 AFC U16 Championship finals.

AFC U16 CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 QUALIFIERS

Group A: Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan.

Group B: Iran, Bahrain, Lebanon, Nepal, Tajikistan, Maldives.

Group C: Syria, Yemen, Qatar, Palestine, Iraq, Bhutan.

Group D: UAE, India, Turkmenistan, Oman, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan.

Group E: Japan, Indonesia, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh, Philippines.

Group F: China, Singapore, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, Timor Leste.

Group G: Korea Republic, Thailand, Vietnam, DPR Korea, Cambodia, Myanmar.

Group H: Australia, Malaysia, Laos.

AFC Under-19 Championship 2010 Qualifiers

JAKARTA (22 Feb 2009) – The might of Japan and Australia stand in the way of both Indonesia and Singapore in the qualifying round of the AFC Under-19 Championship 2010.

The Japanese, who came close to winning the crown on several occasions, have been placed in Group F of the qualifiers against Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong.

But the road is not easy either for the rest of the ASEAN member nations with Thailand, Laos and Vietnam having to contend with 11-time winners Korea Republic in Group E.

The other teams in the group are Macau and Bangladesh.

Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines on the other hand will be up against China – who last won the tournament in 1985 – in Group G with 2006 winners DPR Korea and also Guam.

Only the group winners and runners-up will advance to the main draw alongside the one best third-placed team from the West Zone and one best third-placed team from the East.

AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 QUALIFIERS

Group A – Tajikistan, Jordan, Yemen, Nepal*, Palestine, Kyrgyzstan

Group B – UAE*, Syria, Qatar, Bahrain, Bhutan, Sri Lanka

Group C – Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, India, Afghanistan

Group D – Uzbekistan, Iran, Lebanon, Turkmenistan, Maldives, Pakistan*

Group E – Korea Republic, Thailand*, Laos, Vietnam, Macau, Bangladesh

Group F – Australia, Japan, Indonesia*, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong

Group G – China*, DPR Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Guam, the Philippines

Second Junior COE Trials this weekend

The Football Association of Singapore will conduct the second open trials for its Junior Centre of Excellence programme this coming weekend.

The trials will be for the Under-8, Under-10 and Under-12 squads.

The Under-8 and Under-10 trials will be held on Saturday 14 February at 8.00am and 4.00pm respectively. The Under-12 trial will be held on Sunday 15 February at 8.00am.

All three trials will be held at the open field in Sembawang, beside Block 509C, opposite Wellington Primary School in Wellington Circle.

The trials are open only to Singapore citizens.

Those that participated in the trials at the open field adjacent to Tampines Stadium on 31 Jan and 1 Feb NEED NOT attend.

All trialists are to report at least 30 minutes before the start of the trials and are also requested to bring along their own training attire (jerseys, shorts, socks, boots and shin pads are compulsory).

What: Junior COE Under-8 trials
When: Saturday 14 February 2009
Where: Open Field in Sembawang, beside Block 509C,opposite Wellington Primary School in Wellington Circle
Time: 8.00am
Who: Singaporean males born in 2001 and 2002

What: Junior COE Under-10 trials
When: Saturday 14 February 2009
Where: Open Field in Sembawang, beside Block 509C, opposite Wellington Primary School in Wellington Circle
Time: 4.00pm
Who: Singaporean males born in 1999 and 2000

What: Junior COE Under-12 trials
When: Sunday 15 February 2009
Where: Open Pield in Sembawang, beside Block 509C, opposite Wellington Primary School in Wellington Circle
Time: 8.00am
Who: Singaporean males born in 1997 and 1998

Promising young Lions could star in J-League

THE Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have tried hard to get their most promising Lions to ply their trade abroad, to gain more exposure in bigger leagues.

Earlier this year, Singapore striker and skipper Indra Sahdan went for a trial with MLS side Real Salt Lake, while his national team-mate, keeper Lionel Lewis, trained with Manchester City and Swiss club Grasshoppers. Both failed to land contracts. Now, the FAS can look at the J-League as another overseas venue for their players.The 33 clubs in the J1 and J2 divisions of the J-League are currently allowed three slots for foreign players. But for the 2009 season, which starts in March, the Japan Football Association (JFA) have introduced an “Asian Berth”. It allows clubs to take in one more foreign player from the rest of the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) 45-member associations.

“We expect this to improve our standards while competing with other Asian players. It will allow us to exploit new markets and have more international exchange,” J-League chairman Kenji Onitake was reported as saying. The move has been welcomed by the football fraternity and the FAS are determined to get local players to play in Japan.

Yesterday, they sent a fax to the JFA expressing their interest in having Singaporean players considered for the J-League’s Asian berths. “Getting our players to play overseas is something that the FAS have been working on and we are obviously going to make a concerted effort to get some of our players to Japan,” FAS assistant general secretary P Sivakumar told Today.

“We’ve sat down with Singapore head coach Radojko Avramovic, technical director Slobodan Pavkovic and Winston (Lee) the general secretary and have come up with a shortlist of players we think can succeed there.”

Sivakumar declined to reveal the names on the shortlist. The Singapore squad will defend their Asean title at December’s AFF Suzuki Cup in Thailand and Indonesia. Former Lions head coach and current Home United boss P N Sivaji feels the team’s recent exploits in the Asean tournament could well see J-League clubs consider Singapore players.

“The J-League is one or two levels above our league and only the best get to play there,” he said. “But we have been Asean champions in the last two series and our players have got rave reviews, so we might be able to see some of them playing in Japan.” So far, only V Sundramoorthy (FC Basel, Switzerland) and Fandi Ahmad (Groningen, Holland) have gone beyond South-east Asia and Hong Kong to play professional football.

Sundram, the Young Lions head coach, warned about the difficulties succeeding so far away from home. “To play abroad a player must have discipline and a strong drive to succeed,” he said. National coach Avramovic agreed. “We have a few players who should try to play in Japan, but I don’t think it’s right for the FAS to push them there,” said the Serb. “It is, however, a good opportunity that players should grab.”

Daisuke Korenaga, chairman of S-League side Albirex Niigata, the developmental team of the J1 club, is already looking forward to watching a Singaporean in action in the J-League.
“I can see Hariss Harun playing in the J-League in a few years,” said Korenaga, referring to the Young Lions midfielder who was capped by Avramovic last year when he was just 16. “But this policy means one Japanese player will lose his spot in the squad, and they might not be happy about that. “But an Asian player will encourage football education in Japan, that’s for sure.”

Adapted from Todayonline

Iran Under 16 4-1 Singapore Under 16

TASHKENT –Iran eased to a comfortable 4-1 win against Singapore on Wednesday to head into the quarter-finals of the AFC U-16 Championship with a 100% record after wrapping up Group A.

With a place in the last eight already secured as group winners, Iran dominated from the off and opened the scoring in the first half through Mehrgan Golbarg’s neat close range finish.

Ali Darvishi’s spectacular second half strike, an own goal from Kenneth Chang and a late tap-in from substitute Farhad Gholizadeh wrapped up the win, while Muhammad Al Qaasimy struck Singapore’s first goal of the tournament with a late breakaway.

The only concern for Iran was an injury to Golbarg, who was carried off just before the break with a right ankle injury following a 50-50 challenge.

On a glorious day in the Uzbekistan capital, Kaveh Rezaei should have handed Iran a fifth minute lead, but after skipping clear of the Singapore defence, he saw Muhammad Syazwan produce a full length diving save.

A minute later Ali Heydari rattled the foot of Syazwan’s right hand post before blazing over from the edge of the area and seeing a similar effort helped over the crossbar by the Singapore custodian.

Iran continued to dominate as captain Aghaj Imanighareh drilled wide midway through the first half before Rezaei was denied by Syazwan from close range after pouncing on a loose ball inside the area.

Imanighareh and Mohsen Talebat both had chances before Iran finally opened the scoring 14 minutes before the break as Darvishi’s right wing free-kick was met by the onrushing Golbarg, who gave Syazwan no chance from close range.

Captain Muhammad Muhaymin produced a rare attack for Singapore shortly after, but following a swift counterattack, fired straight at Pedram Yazdani before Golbarg was stretchered off in the closing stages of the first half.

Six minutes after the break Darvishi doubled Iran’s advantage as he picked up the ball 30-yards from goal and drilled a dipping strike over a helpless Syazwan.

Iran added a third as Gholizadeh’s clever pass opened up space for Rezaei inside the area and as the striker’s scuffed shot looked to be heading wide, the ball was bundled over the line by Chang.

Singapore finished the tournament on an upbeat note as substitute Al Qaasimy rounded off a swift counterattack with nine minutes remaining before Gholizadeh tapped home Heydari’s cross at the far post to wrap up the win for dominant Iran.

Group A

Team	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
I.R. IRAN	3	3	0	0	8	2	6	9
UZBEKISTAN	3	2	0	1	10	2	8	6
BAHRAIN	3	1	0	2	3	4	-1	3
SINGAPORE	3	0	0	3	1	14	-13	0

Bahrain Under 16 3-0 Singapore Under 16

TASHKENT – Bahrain registered their first win in this year’s AFC U-16 Championship with a 3-0 victory against Singapore in their second Group A match at Pakhtakor Stadium on Monday.
Salman Ahmed gave Bahrain the lead just four minutes before the end of the first half while Sayed Dhiya Saeed doubled their advantage on 57 minutes before Dheya Salman scored his side’s third goal with 15 minutes remaining.

Both sides made a slow start before Singapore had the first chance in the game after 17 minutes when Muhammad Muhaymin shot wide from just inside the area.

On 21 minutes, Muhammad Fazli tried his luck with a long range effort which went near the right upright just three minutes before Bahrain’s Ali Muneer sent the ball over the crossbar at the other end.

Saeed’s run through the middle of the Singapore penalty area on the half hour mark unleashed Mohamed Adel but, with only Ng Jia Fa to beat, he could only fire into the body of the Singapore goalkeeper.

Singapore were denied by the woodwork on 33 minutes when Muhaymin beat Abdulla Khalifa to the ball before shooting past Bahrain goalkeeper Ahmed Abdulrasool, but the ball slammed against the right post.

Bahrain, however, took the lead four minutes before the break when Ahmed unleashed a powerful effort from 40-yards out which seared into the top left corner of Ng’s goal.

The Bahrainis continued to push at the start of the second half and by the 57th minute they had gone further ahead when Saeed picked up a loose ball and played a neat one-two with Ahmed Isa inside the area before slotting home.

Singapore tried to fight back and they went close in the 72nd minute when Muhaymin headed the ball over Bahraini goalkeeper Ahmed Abdulrasool but Abdulla Khalifa cleared off the line.

However, Bahrain put the result beyond doubt when Salman took advantage of a poor clearance from Kenneth Chang to go into the area, round Ng and score into an empty net with 15 minutes remaining.

Bahrain could have added a fourth four minutes from time when Hussain Jalil’s free kick from the left his the right post while Ng’s quick reaction save denied Jalil in the final minute of the game.

Group A

Team	GP	W	D	L	GF	GA	+/-	Pts
I.R. IRAN	2	2	0	0	4	1	3	6
UZBEKISTAN	2	1	0	1	8	2	6	3
BAHRAIN	2	1	0	1	3	2	1	3
SINGAPORE	2	0	0	2	0	10	-10	0

Disastrous start for young cubs

TASHKENT – Hosts Uzbekistan made the ideal start to this year’s AFC U-16 Championship after breezing to a comfortable 7-0 win over Singapore at Pakhtakor Stadium on Saturday.

Uzbekistan took the lead after nine minutes through Abdumutallib Abdullaev’s spot kick before Ayubhon Gapparov made it 2-0 after 20 minutes and just two minutes later Maksim Utkin scored his side’s third goal.
The Uzbeks added a fourth in the 79th minute through substitute striker Aleksandr Galeev before Abdumutallib Abdullaev continued the rout with another after 86 minutes.

Galeev scored his second goal on the night three minutes later and Utkin completed the scoring in the 90th minute.

Uzbekistan got off to a fine start when they were awarded an early penalty after Oyatullahon Muhiddinov was fouled by Singapore defender Kenneth Chang and Abdumutallib Abdullaev scored from the spot.

Boosted by the goal, Uzbekistan attacked with confidence and should have doubled their lead after 15 minutes when Maksim Utkin edged Muhammad Shahfiq before shooting wide.

But the second soon came when Ayubhon Gapparov beat Muhammad Firman to the ball before going down the left side of the area then scoring with a powerful shot in the 20th minute.

Just two minutes later it was 3-0 as Utkin let fly with a right-foot shot from 25-yards that sailed into the top right corner and past the helpless Cubs keeper Ng Jia Fa.

Singapore had a chance to pull a goal back after 58 minutes when Ali Hudzaifi’s shot from outside the area was put behind for a corner by Uzbekistan custodian Oybek Talipov.

The hosts went close in the 67th minute when Ayubhon Gapparov’s effort hit the upright before Bobur Abdurakhmonov’s follow-up was diverted for a corner by Ng.

However, Uzbekistan added the fourth goal in the 79th minute when Abdumutallib Abdullaev’s cross beat the Singapore keeper and substitute striker Aleksandr Galeev made no mistake with the goal at his mercy.

Uzbekistan scored a fifth goal with four minutes left on the clock as Akramjon Bahritdinov sent a free kick from defence that was headed home by Abdumutallib Abdullaev.

There was still time to add two more goals as Galeev received a neat pass inside the area and though he initially hit the left upright he followed up to put the ball into the net with one minute remaining.

Utkin then capped off a fine night for Uzbekistan with a seventh goal in the 90th minute with a powerful shot from outside the area.

Singapore will face Bahrain at 11pm(Sin time) today and Iran 8 October at 6pm(Sin time).

You can catch the AFC Under 16 Championship live at Saudi Sport TV.

Singapore Under 21 finished fourth in Vietnam Youth Newspaper Cup

Singapore failed to take bronze after Vietnam Under 21 edge Singapore Under 21 1-0 with a goal in the 87th minute courtesy of Hoang Dinh Tung.Vietnam dominated the match but failed to convert most of the chances.

Meanwhile,Iran clinched the trophy after beating Thailand 2-1 in the final held yesterday.Iran received US$10,000 for winning this tournament.

Group A

Singapore 0-6 Iran

Iran 1-0 Myanmar

Singapore 1-0 Myanmar

Group B

Vietnam 4-2 Malaysia

Malaysia 1-4 Thailand

Vietnam 1-2 Thailand

Semi-Final

Singapore 1-3 Thailand

Vietnam 0-4 Iran

Third/Fourth Placing

Vietnam 1-0 Singapore

Final

Iran 2-1 Thailand

Training camp in Japan went on smoothly

The cold weather in Gotenban did not even effect the spirit of the Singapore Under 16 players as they are undergoing a training camp there.In fact,the players gave their best shot with a magnificent performance despite losing 3-4 to the hands of Tokai University Syoyo High School in their first warm up match.

According to assistant coach,Abdullah Noor,in overall,the players has settled well in the cold climate Fuji,one of the most popular attractions in Japan.

“Our players played well despite missing a lot of opportunities infront of goal.What interesting is that they afford to match their opponents despite playing for the first time in such condition like this,”said Abdullah.

The home team played a quick game and their striker used the wing area a couple of time to break down the Singapore defence.

However,Singapore broke the the deadlock first through Muhaymin Salim before the opponent evoke to equalise and the home team then lead 3-1 before ending the game for the first half.

Singapore close on the gap to 2-3 courtesy of Danial Razali but they conceded again 2-4 before Shakir Hamzah scored the third and final goal to make the final scoreline 3-4.

In yesterday match,Singapore Under 16 lose 3-0 to Japan Under 16 in their second warm up match.They will face Shonan Bellmare Under 18 for their final tune up before leaving for Uzbekistan on 1 October.

Vietnam Youth Newspaper Cup 2008

Got this from the Vietnam FA websites.

Group A

Singapore 0-6 Iran

Iran 1-0 Myanmar

Singapore Under 21 need a win against Myanmar today to advance to the semi-final.Iran through to the semi-final.

Group B

Vietnam 4-2 Malaysia

Malaysia 1-4 Thailand

Thailand and Vietnam are through to the semi-final.