S.League name squad for Selangor clash
The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) have named the provisional squad that will take on Selangor in this year's Sultan of Selangor Cup.
By Gabriel Tan
The 11th edition of the exhibition match, which was initiated by the Sultan himself to keep alive the traditional football rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, will take place next Saturday at the Shah Alam Stadium.
While past encounters have been contested by the Red Giants and the Singapore national side, the FAS have decided to send a selection of players from the Great Eastern-YEO's S.League this year to defend the title, which they won last year after beating their opponents 1-0 courtesy of an Asraruddin Putra Omar own-goal.
The S.League selection will be led by Tampines Rovers and Singapore trio Ahmad Latiff, Aleksandar Duric and Mustafic Fahrudin, although the latter's participation is now in doubt after he picked up a groin injury in Wednesday's league clash against Courts Young Lions.
There will also be opportunities for Young Lions trio Hafiz Abu Sujad, Faritz Hameed and Fazli Ayob to impress, along with up-and-coming Geylang United defensive-midfielder Fabian Kwok.
The team will be coached by Geylang coach V. Kanan, who has named three men from his Eagles squad in the side, as well as two players from Albirex Niigata in goalkeeper Takuma Ito and centre-back Norihiro Kawakami.
Selangor, who finished third in this season's Malaysia Premier League and are currently contesting the Malaysia Cup, are likely to be boosted by the additions of Harimau Malaya star Safee Sali and PKNS FC forward Dawood Nicoise.
The curtain raiser to the match will be the veterans match that will see the Singapore legends take on their Selangor counterparts.
Captained by Malek Awab, the Lions side will feature former Malaysia Cup heroes like Fandi Ahmad and V. Sundramoorthy, as well as the likes of Lim Tong Hai, Steven Tan, Rafi Ali and Nazri Nasir.
The Selangor Veterans will comprise of marquee Malaysian names like Dollah Salleh and Zainal Abidin.
S.League Selection Provisional Squad (to face Selangor on September 29)
Goalkeepers: Takuma Ito (Albirex Niigata), Joey Sim (Balestier Khalsa)
Defenders: Norihiro Kawakami (Albirex Niigata), Hamqaamal Shah (Balestier Khalsa), Jufri Taha, Mustafic Fahrudin (both Tampines Rovers), Delwinder Singh (Tanjong Pagar United), Faritz Hameed (Courts Young Lions)
Midfielders: Stefan Milojevic, Shah Hirul, Fabian Kwok (all Geylang United), Ruhaizad Ismail (Balestier Khalsa), Hafiz Abu Sujad, Fazli Ayob (both Courts Young Lions), Carlos Delgado (Tanjong Pagar United)
Strikers: Aleksandar Duric, Jamil Ali, Ahmad Latiff (all Tampines Rovers)