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SINGAPORE - The 2011 SEA Games under-23 football final is scheduled on Nov 21 in Jakarta.
Both Singapore and defending champions Malaysia have their sights set on a place in the final, and their fate could be decided as early as Monday, when they meet in the opening fixture of Group A.
The Causeway rivals are well aware that there is much more at stake than bragging rights when they line up at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Monday to kick off the "Group of Death", which also features regional powerhouses Thailand and hosts Indonesia, along with fast-improving Cambodia.
Malaysia's coach Ong Kim Swee pulled no punches yesterday over how he viewed the clash.
Speaking to Today over the phone, he said: "There will be a lot of motivation at any Singapore-Malaysia game, but the opening game is almost a do-or-die match for both teams.
"It is very important to come away with a good result, especially in this group, because after that we have to face Thailand, who I think are still the best team in the region.
"Then, it is the home team, and you cannot look down on Cambodia who have improved."
The football competition kicks off ahead of the official opening ceremony of the SEA Games on Nov 11.
Group B will be played in Palembang and features Vietnam, Philippines, Brunei, Laos and Myanmar.
Ong and his charges will arrive in Jakarta tomorrow, four days before their opening clash against Singapore.
"We want to get there early and settle into things, I want the players properly focused in training and do the same on matchday," he said.
The senior Singapore team beat their Malaysian counterparts 6-4 over two legs in the second round of Asia's World Cup qualifiers in July this year.
While Ong insists revenge is not high on the agenda, he expects an equally emotionally charged fixture in Jakarta.
Said Ong: "We have a couple of players in this squad who played in those games, and they'll remember it for sure, but what's past is past.
"Although I'll have to admit that playing against Singapore is always something special, especially in the opening match when we both will be going for a win."
Right now, Ong is trying hard to take the pressure off his players.
"It is a burden and a challenge, but for me, not my players," he insisted.
"They just have to double their efforts to keep our gold medal. I know Thailand and hosts Indonesia will work as hard as we did when we won gold at the last Games."
With all the teams in the under-23 competition closely matched, Ong believes it will all come down to concentration.
"The players need to be more serious and more focused ... with that I hope this time we can beat Singapore," he sai
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