SEA Games: Teams raring to kick off football battle

The thirst for the prized football gold in the SEA Games is keeping the top contenders on the edge.

Malaysia's head coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee wants full points from his boys in their opening salvo against Brunei in their Group A match when the hotly-contest football battle starts tomorrow in the SEA Games.

A win in the first match is always important, he said as his rivals continue to rachet up their claims on the prized gold medal.

"My players are ready, I am ready and preparations have run smoothly so far. The SEA Games has always been a unique tournament and we are looking forward to the first match against Brunei," he said at the pre-match press conference here today.

The Malaysia-Brunei match will kick off at 8.45pm at the Shah Alam Stadium. Laos, Myanmar and Singapore complete Group A.

Defending champions Thailand drawn in Group B, dubbed the group of death, has just one mission to wrest the gold to complete a hattrick of wins. Other countries in Group B are Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Timor Leste and the Philippines.

"Our players are ready to retain the gold medal. The team have been preparing well since the beginning of the year and achieved positive results in several recent international tournaments," said team manager Watanya Wongopasi.

Meanwhile Indonesia are going all out to end their 25-year drought for the gold. They came close in 2013 but lost 0-1 to Thailand in the final.

"We came down here with one dream, to win the gold but we know it's not an easy task. We will take every game seriously and try our best to make the country proud," said its Spanish chief coach Luis Milla.

Richard Tardy, the chief coach for Singapore, said the performance of his team in their first two matches, against Myanmar tomorrow and Malaysia on Wednesday, will determine their fate .

"The first two matches are against big teams and it surely will be a difficult task for the boys but I bet they will give their best to get a positive result. We have prepared very well and are definitely ready for the game tomorrow," said the 67-year-old Frenchman.

The football competition begins ahead the Aug 19 official opening of the Games. The showdown for the gold is scheduled for Aug 29. - BERNAMA