By FRANCIS XAVIER
KOTA KINABALU: Two Tambadau youngsters, Ariusdius Jais and Evan Wensley Wenceslaus, are certain to make the national Under-22 final squad that is bound for the AFF Under-22 Championship 2019 that will be happening in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from February 17-26. Ariusdius, a winger, and Evan, a centreback, both 21, are part of the 23-member squad that is currently undergoing the final phase of centralised training in the national capital.
National Under-21 head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee is set to retain all the players as they are set to head to Phnom Penh this Friday. Initially, Kim Swee had named a squad of 26 players for the Cambodia stint. Unfortunately, five players – Danial Amier Norhisham and Zahril Azri Zabri (Felda United), Syahmi Safari (Selangor), Faisal Abdul Halim (Pahang) and Fazrul Danel Mohd Nizam (Kedah) did not get a release from their respective teams.
This prompted Kim Swee to call two players, Danish Haziq Saipul Hisham (Negeri Sembilan) and K. Thivandaran (PJ City FC) to complete his squad of 23 players for the tournament. In the championship, Malaysia have been drawn in Group B alongside hosts Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia. They will open their campaign against Cambodia on Feb 18, followed by a date with Indonesia on Feb 20 before concluding their challenge against Myanmar on Feb 22. Kim Swee and his boys must make a top-two finish in the group to make the semi-finals that have been slated for Feb 24. The third-place play-off and final are scheduled for Feb 26.
