Harimau Muda overshadow LionsXII

Source

2012 Malaysian Super League

LionsXII vs Negeri Sembilan

SINGAPORE - V Sundramoorthy's LionsXII side have already played six Malaysian Super League (MSL) games. While no one can fault their work ethic, the brand of football displayed by the Singapore team has hardly set competition alight.

Often uninspired in attack, with their passing game very much a work-in-progress, the LionsXII face a high-flying Negeri Sembilan side at the Jalan Besar Stadium tonight.

Negeri are fourth in the MSL standings, three points ahead of Sundram's outfit and just four behind leaders Perak.

While the LionsXII are trying to find their feet in the MSL, the Harimau Muda, the Malaysian development squad that have come the other way, have already taken the S-League by storm.

The young Malaysian players were a delight to watch in their 2-0 win over Gombak United in their S-League opener on Thursday. Highly-skilled, full of pace and running Ong Kim Swee's side employed a slick pass-and-move game that won them rave reviews, and comparisons have already been made with the LionsXII.

Sundram caught the Harimau Muda in action and said yesterday: "That team have talented players, and their understanding and teamwork comes from having played together for a long time. We have equally talented ones in our team, but we were formed just one month before the January kickoff and we need time to get there.

"This first year is an experimental year for us, where we compete, gain exposure and try to win games. We should try to win things in our second and third year."

Malaysia's Harimau Muda is the country's under-23 team and they have had multiple stints playing in the Slovakian league over the last few years. Coach Ong's players are full-time footballers, most of them living and training together at the Football Association of Malaysia's (FAM) Kelana Jaya headquarters.

While Sundram pointed to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) National Football Academy sides and the Singapore Sports School teams as good developmental platforms for future footballers, he insisted the LionsXII have already shown some improvement.

He said: "We need to use the ball better in the attacking third of the pitch, but our performances against Sabah and Selangor spoke volumes about the character of the team.

"The senior players are taking more control, with younger ones like Madhu Mohana, Shakir Hamzah and Raihan Rahman coming along very nicely.

"This is our test year, we will get better with time, and with time, our understanding and teamwork will also get better."



10 per cent of tickets are still available for tonight's match and booths at Jalan Besar Stadium's North gate will open at 5pm. The match will also be shown "live" on MediaCorp Channel 5 from 7.30pm.



Probable LionsXII first XI:

Izwan Mahbud, Madhu Mohana, Baihakki Khaizan, Hariss Harun, Shaiful Esah, Juma'at Jantan, Isa Halim, Shahdan Sulaiman, Irwan Shah, Shahril Ishak, Sufian Anuar