U-22s 'will adapt quickly' after Games football re-draw

Following Cambodia’s withdrawal from the SEA Games Under-22 men’s football tournament, Singapore have been redrawn into Group A and will now kick off their campaign against Timor-Leste on Dec 6 before playing hosts Thailand on Dec 11 instead.

- David Lee Senior Sports Correspondent

All their matches will be held at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

Originally, Firdaus Kassim’s team were pulled into Group C and were supposed to face champions Indonesia on Dec 5, before taking on Myanmar and the Philippines on Dec 8 and 12 respectively in Chiang Mai.

However, on Nov 26, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia informed the SEA Games Federation that it would not participate in football and seven other sports at the Dec 9-20 Games in Thailand due to safety concerns arising from diplomatic tensions between both countries. This followed earlier intermittent military clashes that killed more than 40 people during five days of combat in July.

Hence, Group A was left with just record 16-time champions Thailand and Timor-Leste, and the organisers decided to move Singapore from Group C, the only four-team group, although no explanation was given. Group B comprises Vietnam, Malaysia and Laos.

The three group winners and the best second-placed team across all pools will advance to the semifinals, which means Singapore likely need to rack up the goals against Timor-Leste and try to hold the formidable Thais to stand a chance.