Malaysia XI take on Nepal

Malaysia under-22 team were good enough to lift the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in the last edition, and this time Malaysia will be represented by a club team, FELDA United FC, who, too, vowed to return home with the same title.

FELDA United FC, who will be playing as Malaysia XI, will start their campaign against Nepal side, comprising under-23 players, at the Shamsul Huda Stadium in Jessore today.

“Our club have been chosen to represent Malaysia and we are not here for holiday. We want to win the trophy,” said Malaysia XI coach Irfan Bakti, who also guided a club to triumph in the 1997 edition of this tournament.

Bakti's bold announcement came on the basis of his squad, which consists of two current national players and many former national players. The team played in the semifinals of Malaysian Cup and finished fifth in the Malaysian Super League this season.

Bakti, however, believes the main challenge would come from hosts Bangladesh.

Bakti's counterpart Bal Gopal Maharjan also vowed to move into the next stage by defying the challenge from Malaysia and hosts Bangladesh.

“We have come here as part of preparation for the South Asian Games. We are in a strong group which comprises the defending champions and the runners-up, but we want to move to the next stage,” said Maharjan, who once played for Brothers Union in Dhaka Premier League.