Young Lions target SEA Games final But it will be no easy task if they are drawn in a group with regional giants

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SINGAPORE - After bronze-medal showings in the last two editions of the SEA Games, a spot in the gold medal match is the target set for the Singapore under-23 football team at the Nov 11-22 Games in Indonesia.

But the Republic's Young Lions have their work cut out for them.

The SEA Games news Facebook page has released the groupings for the football competition, with Singapore lined up in Group B alongside regional giants Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia.

Group A will see hosts Indonesia play Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Timor Leste.

The page has also released competition schedules of various sports including taekwondo and equestrian, information that is not yet available on the Games' official site.

While the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have yet to receive official word of the draw from organisers, the grouping, if true, will indeed pose a challenge.

FAS technical director Slobodan Pavkovic will be the head coach at the Games, and speaking to Today he admitted as much: "The grouping is tough. Vietnam have a good under-23 team, and they will be difficult opponents for us ... and Thailand have a good team as well."

Pavkovic has just returned from Ho Chi Minh City where the under-23 side finished bottom in the four-team Eximbank Cup, losing all their games, including a close 2-1 defeat to the Vietnam team they will face at the Games.

"The boys who were there did well, but we went to Vietnam without 14 of our players, because of injuries, school and National Service commitments.

"If we have our key players, we can do something in Indonesia, but if we don't then we are in trouble, the target of a silver medal will be difficult to achieve," said Pavkovic.

The senior national team's continued participation in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers will have a big impact on what the Republic can achieve at the Games.

Four under-23 players - Hariss Harun, Safuwan Baharudin, Izwan Mahbud and Shahdan Sulaiman - are part of Radojko Avramovic's side, and are key figures in Pavkovic's team.

The Lions are staring at an early elimination after losing their opening two games to China and Iraq last month, but if they rescue their qualifying campaign by beating Jordan on Oct 11, then it is very likely the foursome will continue to stay with the senior side who have two fixtures in November (Nov 11, away to Jordan; Nov 15 hosting China), while the under-23s will be in the midst of the Games football tournament.

Said Pavkovic: "We are playing the Thailand under-23 team on Oct 10, and the picture will be clearer after that and the national team's match against Jordan on Oct 11."