Kim Swee believes his boys will make an impact in Super League

PETALING JAYA: Harimau Muda A (national Under-21) are set to make heads turn in the domestic competition this season.

Coach Ong Kim Swee said that expectations were high on his boys to do well in the Super League after the strong showing of some of them with the national senior team, who emerged as champions in the Asean tournament last month.

Harimau Muda open their campaign against Negri Sembilan at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Jan 29.

“We have national players on our side with experience and fighting qualities. They have been trained in Slovakia and should be making waves in the domestic competition. I believe they will pose a serious threat to our opponents,” said Kim Swee.

The two centrebacks, Mohd Muslim Ahmad and Mohd Fadhli Shas, featured prominently in the national team. They were in the starting line-up at the Asian Games in Guangzhou last November and at the Asean tournament the following month. The reserves in the team were Mohd Faizal Mohd, Mahali Jasuli (defence), K. Gurusamy (midfield) and Izzaq Faris Ramlan (striker).

Kim Swee said that Harimau Muda were ready to give the big teams a run for their money and had set a target to finish among the top five finish in the Super League.

In the FA Cup, Harimau Muda have a first-round tie against SDM Kepala Batas.

Besides the Super League, Kim Swee has to prepare his boys for the Asian qualifiers for the 2012 London Olympics Under-23 tournament. They are down to play against Pakistan in a first-round match in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 23.

“There are a few more players available for the pre-Olympics who are with the national team. I will call them up before we go into the final phase of training for the qualifiers,” said Kim Swee.

Among the players eligible to play in the qualifiers are goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat and attacking players Fakri Saarani, Ahmad Shakir Ali and Faizal Abu Bakar.

Two away warm-up matches against the Olympic sides of Thailand and Singapore are in place for Harimau Muda ahead of the match against Pakistan. They will play against Thailand in Bangkok today and against Singapore on Jan 24.