KUALA LUMPUR: National youth coach Ong Kim Swee has finalised his 23-member squad for next month's AFC Under-23 Championship in China. Those dropped were defender Raphi Azizan Mariappen (of PJ Rangers), and midfielders Ahmad Khairil Anuar Zamri (Perak) and K. Thivandaran (Penang). "Although, the three were nursing injuries, they did their best in training," said Kim Swee in a statement on Friday. "However, they are on standby in case any of my 23-member squad sustain serious injuries before our opening AFC match on Jan 10." Among those in the squad are Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat, A. Shivan Pillay, Akhyar Rashid and Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak, who are members of the national Under-19 team.

Source: New Strait Times December 29, 2017 06:11 UTC