Contributed by Visakan Subramanian

Hanoi, September 15, 2010 — Singapore has been drawn in Group B alongside Myanmar, defending champions and co-hosts, Vietnam and the qualifying round’s runner-up for December’s ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2010. Group A will feature the other co-hosts Indonesia as well as Malaysia, Thailand and the qualifying round winner.

The qualifiers are scheduled from 22 to 26 October in Laos and will involve Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines and Timor Leste with the top two going through to the tournament proper.

The draw took place this afternoon at the Sheraton Hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Singapore, winners of the biennial tournament on three occasions – 1998, 2004 and 2007 – kick off their challenge for the Suzuki Cup on 2 December against the qualifying round’s runner-up with their second group game against Myanmar on 5 December.

The Lions will then meet Vietnam, who knocked them out in the semi-finals of the last tournament, on 8 December in Hanoi.

“The group we are in is slightly easier than the other group where there will be three title contenders in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia,” said Singapore national coach Radojko Avramovic.

“Overall I am happy with the draw. It is a good draw for us. There are three stages in the tournament and we need to clear the first two stages to reach our target of the final.”

“Our target in this tournament is to reach the final. To do that, we must make sure we make it to the semi finals.”

Singapore Fixtures (To be played in Hanoi)

2 December
Singapore vs Runners-up Qualifiers

5 December
Singapore vs Myanmar

8 December
Singapore vs Vietnam