Southeast Asia

AFF U22 Championship – Best XI to Watch

By: , February 16, 2019 11:07 pm
Dominic Tan Credit – Johor Southern Tigers

South-East Asia’s brightest young talents will be on display in Cambodia next week for the 2019 AFF U22 Championships. Here are just some of the players you should keep your eyes on at the upcoming tournament.

Goalkeeper

Name: Haziq Nadzli

Age: 21

Nationality: Malaysia

Club: Johor Darul Ta'zim

In some senses, the young JDT stopper is similar to Farizal Marlias between the sticks - strong in the air and not afraid to face up to the opposition.

Defender

Name: Saringkan Promsupa

Age: 21

Nationality: Thailand

Club: Muangthong United

Saringkan has been rising through the national team youth ranks since the U19 level, where he won the AFF Cup. Head coach Alexandre Gama handed him the captain's armband in the final friendly match versus Meizhou Hakka FC, and the powerful defender will fight until the end against any opposition attackers.

Defender

Name: Andy Setyo

Age: 21

Nationality: Indonesia

Club: TIRA-Persikabo

Andy, who is ranked as a second sergeant in the Indonesian Army, was chosen by Indra Sjafri as the captain of U-22 national team. Standing in 180 centimeters, the imposing central defender key for his club side last season, playing 27 matches from 34 gameweeks for The Young Warriors, TIRA-Persikabo. Andy is a versatile player, as he can also play as a left-back or even a left midfielder.

Defender

Name: Dominic Tan

Age: 21

Nationality: Malaysia

Club: Johor Darul Ta'zim

Dominic Tan is a young candidate with a bright future ahead of him. He is quick to win the ball and is always alert. Capable of winning aerial duels, the U-22 national team captain is never afraid. For experience, Tan was loaned to the Portuguese third tier, returned six months earlier.

Right Midfielder

Name: Ngo Tung Quoc

Age: 21

Nationality: Vietnam

Club: Ho Chi Minh City FC

He has improved a lot as a right back at Can Tho in V.League 2018. His performances have earned him a move Ho Chi Minh City FC ahead of the 2019 season, and he was even called up for Park Hang-Seo's preliminary Vietnam squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Central Midfielder

Name: Bui Tien Dung

Age: 21

Nationality: Vietnam

Club: Da Nang

Tien Dung is one of the most experienced players at the U22 squad. He was a member of the side that qualified for U20 World Cup 2017 all the way back in 2016. However, injuries have hampered his career in recent months, and this tournament will be the ideal time for him to make a comeback.

Central Midfielder

Name: Anon Samakorn

Age: 20

Nationality: Thailand

Club: Port FC

Energetic midfielder Anon Samakorn spent 2 years in Leicester City's academy before signing with OH Leuven in the Belgian 2nd tier. Port FC, a side competing in the Thai League title race at the time, loaned him in for additional squad depth. Anon's positional awareness and tough tackling quickly showed that he was too good to be a substitute, as he began challenging for starting places against more experienced senior players.

Central Midfielder

Name: Nik Akif Shahiran

Age: 19

Nationality: Malaysia

Club: Kelantan

Nik Akif Shahiran is an excellent young player and is one of the country's most promising future midfielders. At age 19, he has shown great maturity in his game. Already featuring regularly with Kelantan's senior squad, Nik Akif has scored 3 goals in 20 appearances for his club.

Left Midfielder

Name: Osvaldo Haay

Age: 21

Nationality: Indonesia

Club: Persebaya Surabaya

Osvaldo, the best young player in Liga 1 last season, has already finished a trial at the youth team of Spanish club's CD Numancia. However, the winger rejected their contract offer because he wanted to keep playing for Persebaya and the national team. Last season, he scored nine goals and registered three assists. After his fantastic domestic season, Osvaldo has a chance to recover from his surprising exclusion from the 2018 Asian Games squad and demonstrate his talent.

Striker

Name: Hadi Fayyadh

Age: 19

Nationality: Malaysia

Club: Fagiano Okayama

Hadi Fayyadh Abdul Razak became the first Malaysian to play in the J2 League after he joined Fagiano Okayama on the 21st December 2018. He is an example of a young striker who never wants to give up, an attitude that has already taken him to reach great heights at his age.

Striker

Name: Korrawit Tasa

Age: 18

Nationality: Thailand

Club: Muangthong United

The electric striker has just returned from a week trial at J2 side JEF United Chiba and was promised a role in SCG Muangthong United's star-studded attacker after impressing the staff during pre-season. Tasa burst on to the scene with his pace and lethal finishing in the 2nd leg of the season, scoring 4 from 8 appearances while on-loan at Ubon UMT United. He is also Thailand's star performer in the AFC U19 Championship last year.