A fighter who won't give up LionsXII selection vindication for talented teenager Pravin who got in at the 11th hour

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SINGAPORE - He intercepted a pass in the middle of the park, but the ball fell back to an opposing player who sent the ball out wide, and Pravin Guanasagaran battled on till he broke up play and won possession again.

That incident was etched in the memory of Singapore under-18 coach Akbar Abdul Nawas, as his charges lost 1-0 loss to an Australian side with five players hailing from English Premier League clubs, in October's AFC under-19 qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore failed to score a single goal in that tourney, and were booted out of a group featuring China, Indonesia and Macau, but for central midfielder Pravin, it was a campaign that won him a spot in the LionsXII team that will return to Malaysian domestic football competitions after an 18-year hiatus.

"Pravin was very impressive against Australia, I dare say it was the best game I've seen him play, and he deserves the spot in that team," Akbar told Today.

"He's got ability, physique and character. He does a great job in front of the back four, and he's got a varied attacking element to his play, and he's a big game player too. As long as he keeps his feet on the ground, he'll do well."

Today understands that just days before Monday's squad announcement, LionsXII coach V Sundramoorthy was prepared to go with a 27-man squad.

But perhaps his trip to Kuala Lumpur to watch the under-18s in action swayed "The Dazzler" to include Pravin, the youngest and last member in the roster to put pen to paper.

"I'm very excited to be included in such a big tournament, and I want to win the Malaysia Cup to prove that we're not going there to get thrashed," said Pravin.

"This call-up shows me that some of my hard work has paid off, but now it's time for me to really prove myself."

Having moved to Perth, Australia, in January 2009 to pursue his studies and football education, Pravin returned to Singapore in June last year to fulfil his National Service (NS) obligations.

He had played for Canning City and was invited to join A-League side Perth Glory while Down Under, and was due to join former Singapore Sports School team-mate Shahfiq Ghani in the Courts Young Lions team coached by Sundram.

Shahfiq, with his deft touches, and Pravin's physical ability and long-range passing proved an impressive central midfield partnership for the school. But while Shahfiq went on to impress the likes of visiting football legends Pele and Eric Cantona, Pravin was relegated to playing for the national under-17 side.

"I was demoralised of course, but I fought on. NS was a big distraction, but even when I was there, I trained, going to the gym and for runs," he said. "I learned a lot playing in Australia with bigger players who were very aggressive, and no one there accepted that me, a younger boy, was playing in the senior team, so I had to fight for my place.

"I think it will be quite similar here."