Lions stand to gain

SMART MOVE: Sundramoorthy's players will use Merdeka Tournament to get themselves primed for Malaysia Cup

THE Merdeka Tournament, scheduled for next month in Kuantan, will benefit newly crowned Super League champions LionXII in their quest to win the Malaysia Cup which starts on Tuesday.

Lions coach V. Sundramoorthy believes the tournament will help his team maintain their momentum and fitness level for the Malaysia Cup, which they last won in 1994.

Singapore's Under-23 side, bound for the Merdeka Tournament, will comprise mostly Lions players.

Sundramoorthy, who is also the Under-23 coach, will however include several newcomers in the absence of at least four regulars who are expected to join the senior team for internationals.

Izwan Mahbud (goalkeeper), Hariss Harun (midfielder) and defenders Safuwan Baharudin and Faritz Hameed are almost certain to miss the tournament.

Thailand and Malaysia are also expected to miss a few regulars with the exception of Myanmar, who have started preparing for December's Sea Games.

It will be hectic for the Lions, who will play four matches in the Malaysia Cup before travelling to Kuantan for the Merdeka Tournament on Sept 7-14.

But Sundramoorthy is unperturbed as he believes the tight schedule will toughen up his players for the Malaysia Cup and later, the Sea Games.

He believes it is a win-win situation for his team in their bid to capture the Malaysia Cup.

"This arrangement will allow my players to maintain their momentum and fitness level.

"It will also help me try out untested players during the Merdeka Tournament," said Sundramoorthy in Singapore.

"As long as they keep playing quality matches, they will be kept fit and sharp for the Malaysia Cup.

"I want to see how they react against quality teams. For us it is basically developing them for the Sea Games."

Lions are drawn in Group D with Perak, Sarawak and Kedah in the Malaysia Cup.

"We want to do our best in both tournaments, but football is unpredictable. I am not setting targets for my boys."

National Under-23 coach Ong Kim Swee is also planning to try out fringe players in the Merdeka Tournament in the absence of regulars who will join the seniors for a friendly in China.

"I already have my core players but at this stage, I want to keep my options open.

"I want to give those, who rarely get opportunities to play in high level matches, to feature prominently in the tournament," said Kim Swee, who will not have the services of Nik Shahrul Azim and Junior Eldstal.

Tickets, priced at RM38, RM48, RM68 (east stand) and RM128 (grandstand), for the Merdeka Tournament are available via www.ticketpro.com.my.

Season tickets are priced at RM209 (east stand) and RM375 (grandstand).

FIXTURES -- Sept 7: Malaysia v Singapore (5.30pm); Thailand v Myanmar (8.45pm); Sept 9: Thailand v Singapore (5.30pm); Malaysia v Myanmar (8.45pm); Sept 11: Malaysia v Thailand (8.45pm); Singapore v Myanmar (Stadium Temerloh, 8.45pm); Sept 14: 3rd-4th playoff (5.30pm); Final (8.45pm).

n All matches at Stadium Darul Makmur unless stated.

Source: http://www.news.myanmaronlinecentre.com/2013/08/15/lions-stand-to-gain/