Pakeer Ali states confidence in young team

By Sandun Kodithuwakku

Sri Lanka's national football coach believes his young team will come good in front of their home supports, in the friendly against Malaysia at the Sugathadasa Stadium on Friday (12). 

The match will kick-off at 6.45pm.

Sri Lanka's national football coach Rumy Packeer Ali speaks to the media - File photo

The squad includes five players from Colombo FC, four from Army SC and four from Renown SC while Subash Madushan (Navy SC) has been appointed as the captain of the squad.

Sri Lanka Coach Rumy Pakeer Ali said, “We have been progressing well during the last few months and I hope the players are in a better frame of mind to face their strong opponents.”

Pakeer Ali also said, “I believe the international exposure they had while paying against Lithuania, Bangladesh and the Maldives will certainly be an added advantage and I hope the players will carry that form into the next level and be more aggressive in their approach rather than playing a customary defensive game,” adding, “No doubt Malayasia are in a higher position in the FIFA ranking but I hope those statistics would not affect the performance of the Sri Lanka Team,” he said.

Sri Lanka

Subash Madushan (Captain), Yogendran Dickson Puslas, Anurudha Warakagoda, Jude Supan, Charith Rathnayake, Nicholas Fernando, Udaya Keerthi Kumara, Sajith Mendis, Mohamed Rifnaz, Afeel Mohamed, A. Rahman, Mariyathas Nitharsan, Kavindu Ishan, Sasanga Jayasekara, Dilan De Silva, M.M.M. Mustaq, Jeevantha Fernando, Naizer Fazal, Asela Madushan, Shabeer Razooniya, Razik Rishad, Sujan Perera, Danushka Rajapaksha

Malaysia

Muhammad Haziq Nadzli, Mathew Davies, Shahrul Mohd Saad, Fazly Mazlan, Adam Nor Azlin, Mohd Nor Hakim Hassan, Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid, Mohamad Zaquan Adha Abd Razak (Captain), NorshahrulIdlan Talaha, Muhammad Shahrel Fikri, Mohamadou Sumareh, Amirul Azhan Aznan, Mohamed Syamer Kutty Abba, Kenny Pallraj Davaragi, Mohd Syazwan Zainon, Muhammad Irfan Zakaria, Mahalli Jasuli, Muhammad Syahmi Safari, Mohd Azzizan Nordin, Muhammad Syazwan Andik Mohd Ishak, Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Muhammad Hafizul Hakim Khairul