SINGAPORE - The Merlion Cup will be revived in the form of a mini South-east Asia Games football tournament as the under-22Â national teams from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines join hosts Singapore in a friendly quadrangular next month.
The June 7-9 competition will be held at the Jalan Besar Stadium and will serve as preparations for the four teams ahead of this year's SEA Games in the Philippines. The biennial Games is from Nov 30-Dec 11.
At the press conference on Wednesday (May 15), Young Lions coach Fandi Ahmad said: "Football needs to be revitalised in Singapore and the Merlion Cup will be a good opportunity to expose the young players to international football.
"All teams are equal and we won't fear any opponents. Hopefully, with good preparation and home support, we will play some good football like we did in the AFC U-23 qualifiers."
Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Lim Kia Tong said the tournament will be an annual affair, although it could toggle between a senior and age-group competition depending on their needs.
For this year's edition, Singapore will face the Philippines while the Thais take on the Indonesians in the other semi-final on June 7.
The third-placed play-off and final will be two days later.
Young Lions defender Lionel Tan said: "We are very excited and raring to go and do Singapore proud by putting up good performances. We will focus on our own strengths and abilities and play to our coaches' instructions."
The Merlion Cup had been held annually in Singapore from 1982 to 1986, and once in 1992, and was widely considered the Republic's premier invitational football tournament.
It featured countries such as the Netherlands, Australia, Iraq, China, South Korea and international club sides like Inter Milan and Lokomotiv Moscow.
It was last held in 2009 at the old National Stadium, when Singapore were beaten 5-0 by English giants Liverpool.
In 2015, there were talks of reviving the tournament after international sports media rights agency MP & Silva's $25-million deal with the FAS was announced in February that year.
The J-League's Yokohama Marinos, Chinese Super League's Shanghai Shenhua and Myanmar national team touted as likely participants but cost issues saw MP & Silva pull out of negotiations with the Singapore Sports Hub in December 2015 over the staging of the Merlion Cup in 2016.
Find Live Cricket Scores, Match updates, Fixtures, Results, News, Articles, Video highlights only at ESPNcricinfo. Read Ball by Ball Commentary, Series schedule of all ICC International & Domestic
Boy catches angry 10ft snake with bare hands in Indonesia
Jurgen Klopp has shut down any suggestion that he could leave Liverpool to take the reins at Bayern Munich, with the German pointing out that he has "a long-term contract" at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Tottenham analysis, Champions League final
Maurizio Sarri has downplayed Pep Guardiola's suggestion that Chelsea are still in the Premier League title race as he prepares his team to face leaders Manchester City on Sunday. The 60-year-old Italian said his side were "lucky" to beat City in December when they ended the champions' 21-match unbeaten run with a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge.
EPL: Chelsea Not In Premier League Title Race, Says Sarri
'Serene' Quagliarella becomes Italy's oldest scorer at 36
Feb 23 (Reuters) - Newcastle United's 2-0 win over 10-man Huddersfield Town on Saturday eased their Premier League safety fears and sent the Terriers hurtling ever faster towards relegation to the
Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop
Search for missing Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala resumes in
Footballer Emiliano Sala's family grieved on Friday after British authorities formally identified his body as the one recovered from the submerged wreckage of a plane that went down in the Channel more than two weeks ago.
Family mourn Sala after body in Channel wreckage identified
Football: Lacazette double helps Arsenal beat Valencia 3-1 in Europa League LONDON (REUTERS) - Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette scored twice in the first half and fellow striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang snatched a last-gasp third goal to secure a 3-1 win over Valencia in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final on Thursday (May 2).
Lacazette double helps Arsenal beat Valencia - Cyprus Mail
Massimiliano Allegri feels he will leave Juventus with the potential to go on and win the Champions League after it was announced he would "I leave behind a solid group with extraordinary
Massimiliano Allegri to leave Serie A champions Juventus
England's Harry Kane celebrates scoring their 4th goal with Raheem Sterling, Ross Barkley and Jordan Henderson. (Reuters pic) PODGORICA: England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare - CNA
Albirex Niigata FC (S) defender Kaishu Yamazaki hopes the defending champions can remain unbeaten the entire season starting with Wednesday's game against Young Lions. The entire Singapore
Football: Albirex Niigata still aim to win trophies despite
0 comments:
Post a Comment