AFC Solidarity Cup: Macau v Mongolia preview

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AFC Solidarity Cup: Macau v Mongolia preview
Photo: Lagardère Sports

Kuching: Macau coach Tam Iao San is aiming to reach at least the last four of the AFC Solidarity Cup Malaysia 2016 as the East Asians prepare to take on Mongolia in their Group B opener at Sarawak Stadium on Thursd ay.

The sides are on familiar terms with each other having played out a 2-2 draw in the EAFF East Asian Cup preliminary round back in June, before both were beaten to the qualification spot by group winners Chinese Taipei.

But with the newly introduced AFC Solidarity Cup offering some of Asia’s lower ranked sides the chance of continental glory, Tam (pictured, right) will be looking for the winning start that would stand Macau in good stead for achieving his semi-final goal.

“This tournament is a very good opportunity for us because it provides the chance for teams of a similar ranking to play against each other,” said Tam, whose side will also face Laos and Sri Lanka in Group B.

“Next year there are no big competitions for teams like us so this is a great idea. Here we can play at least three competitive matches, and it’s tournament matches like these that help us improve.

“The EAFF was a good tournament for us even though we were knocked out. We drew 2-2 with Mongolia and that was a fair result for both teams.

“Now we know their strengths and they know ours, so we’re hoping we can use our strengths better than they can use theirs tomorrow.”

As with Macau, Mongolia last played a competitive match at the EAFF East Asian Cup qualifiers when they claimed a resounding 8-0 victory over the Northern Mariana Islands to round off their campaign in style.

Japanese coach Toshiaki Imai (pictured, left) only recently stepped into the role and has since taken his new side to a training camp in China to escape the freezing winter conditions in Mongolia.

And he will hope the time spent together will have familiarised the Mongolian players with his methods ahead of their first fixture at the inaugural tournament.

“I only joined the team two weeks ago so it’s been a very short time, but I think the players have made good progress and I hope they can perform well tomorrow,” said Imai.

“Macau have very young, but very aggressive players. It was a difficult match for us when we last played them.

“The competition is very important for Mongolia. Winter is very cold there so the players can’t play and there are only a few international matches.

“But before we came to Malaysia we were in China so we were able to train in hotter conditions and I think my players are well prepared.”