KUALA LUMPUR: Former Harimau Malaya squad head coach Datuk Dollah Salleh believes that there is no definition of a first or second team involving the squad that will represent the country at the 2024 ASEAN Cup competition starting Dec 8. He said the players under the management of Pau Marti Vicente, which features a blend of senior and junior players, should instead put aside such notion and keep setting their sights on going far in the competition.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dollah Salleh stated, “I think there is no difference even though some people say this is the second team. Whoever (the player) is called to play must give all their best as this is a special opportunity for local players.” He emphasized the importance for players to prove themselves and not use the label of being the second team as an excuse. Dollah affirmed his belief that the Harimau Malaya players participating are top-tier.

He also anticipates that the competition will be more intense this time, with the average ASEAN count
ry showing improvement and a higher quality of play. “We can’t take it easy anymore, looking at the first time in this group, there was confidence to enter (go far) but now there is no difference in any group, all standards (teams) are more or less the same,” remarked Dollah, who previously guided the Harimau Malaya squad to the final in the 2014 edition.

Earlier, it was announced that the 18th edition of the Royal Selangor Club (RSC)-Dato’ Chu Ah Nge International Youth Football Championship is set to be more vibrant this year. It will feature the participation of 120 teams from six countries: Singapore, Brunei, Maldives, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia. The youth football competition, which serves as a platform to discover and nurture young talents to higher levels, will span three days starting this Friday.