Kim Swee to use three friendly matches in Thailand to idenfify players for SEA Games

Three friendly matches in Bangkok, Thailand starting March 21, will kick off National Under-23 squad coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee's final phase of preparations for the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.

Kim Swee said the friendly matches against the Thai Under-22 squad would also give him the opportunity to gauge the performance of his players before naming the squad for the SEA Games task in June.

"Through the three matches I also hope to restore their level of fitness because they have not been playing many competitive matches lately," he told Bernama when met after a training session at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya, here Tuesday.

The 44-year-old coach said the results of the matches in Bangkok would not be the main concern but rather the team work and coordination would be the main focus.

"I will take 25 players to Bangkok but they must fight for places in the first team," said Kim Swee.

Kim Swee said the first phase of training for the SEA Games started on Sunday and ended today while the players will be recalled for the second phase that starts on March 15, before flying off to Bangkok.