AFC U-16 Football Qualifiers: Singapore bow out; Malaysia only SEA country to qualify

The Singapore National Football Academy Under-15 squad before leaving for the AFC U-16 qualifiers in Hong Kong. (Photo courtesy of Football Association of Singapore)

Hong Kong, Sunday, September 29, 2013 – Singapore lost 1–3 to Australia in their final match to finish third in their group at the 2014 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-16 Championship qualifiers.

Singapore, represented by the National Football Academy (NFA) Under-15 squad, finished with two wins and two losses and did not qualify for the Championship that will be held in Thailand in 2014.

Malaysia are the only country from South-east Asia to qualify for the Championship outright. They qualified as group winners along with Kuwait, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Oman, Australia, North Korea and Japan.

The five best second-placed countries that qualified as well are Syria, Qatar, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong and South Korea.

Thailand qualify automatically as hosts.

In their opening match, Singapore lost 1–4 to Hong Kong, with Muhammad Zulqarnaen bin Suzliman scoring Singapore’s only goal in the second half after Hong Kong had built a 3–0 half-time lead.

The next match saw our boys beat Chinese Taipei 3–1, with Amirul Hakim Onn and Muhd Hami Syahin bin Said (2) scoring the goals.

In their third match, Singapore thrashed Macau 9–0. Royston Tan had a hat-trick, with Suzliman (2), Muhd Syukri bin Moh Bashir (2), Haiqal Anugrah (1), Prakash Raj s/o Nanthakumar (1) getting on the scoresheet as well.

Haiqal scored Singapore’s only goal in the 1–3 loss to Australia.

At the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-16 Championship held in Myanmar in August 2013, the same Singapore squad finished with one win, two draws and one loss. They beat the Philippines 1–0, drew 1–1 with Indonesia and Malaysia, and lost 2–4 to Laos. Singapore finished third behind group winners Malaysia and runners-up Indonesia and did not qualify for the semi-finals.

Malaysia went on to win the AFF U-16 title when they beat Indonesia 3–2 on penalties after both teams finished regulation time tied at 1–1.

Singapore NFA U-15 Squad
Goalkeepers
Kenji Syed Rusydi Bin Al-Asyraf, 15
Hong Kah Secondary School

Muhammad Adib Nur Hakim Bin Azahari, 15
Singapore Sports School

Nonis Zephen Sean-Anthony
15
Goalkeeper
Assumption English School

Defenders
Muhamad Rusyaidi Bin Salime, 15
Singapore Sports School

Mohammad Shahrul Affandy Bin Mohamad Fazil, 15
Singapore Sports School

Mohammad Fadzyl Bin Misawal, 15
Singapore Sports School

Danial Shafiq Bin Abdul Rahman, 14
Singapore Sports School

Muhammad Danish Bin Mohd Jefri, 15
Hong Kah Secondary School

Muhammad Amer Hakeem Bin Mohamad Nazri, 14
Tanjong Katong Secondary School

Muhammad Fazrin Bin Muhammad Hawafi, 15
St Gabriel’s Secondary School

Muhammad Mikhail Bin Ramdan, 15
Dunearn Secondary School