Many Are Called. Few Succeed. Manchester United: Beyond the Promised Land

Man Utd To Sign Malaysian Youngsters?

FOUR of Malaysia’s Under-20 players have caught the eye of Manchester United youth manager Brian McClair, and if the latter follows up on his praises, the four will receive trials with the English giants.

The Malaysians surprised United’s Academy team on Wednesday, handing them a 4-1 thrashing at the club’s Carrington training facility, in a match that had McClair heaping praises on K. Rajagopal’s charges.

A perfect record of three wins out of three, with a total of nine goals scored and just one conceded means confidence is oozing in Rajagopal’s team. The squad ended a 20-day training cum playing stint in Manchester with a perfect record of three wins.

The stint is part of the squad’s preparations for the Asian Youth Championship in India in October. According to FAM secretary Datuk Seri Dr Ibrahim Saad, McClair stated that he was particularly impressed with twins Aidil Zafuan and Zaquan Adha Abdul Razak, Khairil Muhymeen Zambri and Amar Rohaida and he even said he would consider giving the four a trial.

In fact, Khairil was voted Man-of-the-Match by the coaches in the team’s 3-0 victory over Salford Academy last Wednesday. The squad’s other match, against the Stoke City Academy last Saturday, ended 2-0 in Malaysia’s favour.

Ibrahim also said the fact that United’s youth squad featured five of their first team players, served to add to the positive impact at the conclusion of the squad’s tour.

Stoke City, whose academy side were beaten 2-0 by the under-20 team on Saturday, had also expressed their interest in Aidil and Zaquan.

"I think it should be made clear that the boys weren’t up against just any squad - Manchester United fielded virtually their strongest youth squad, and they were utterly surprised by our boys," said Ibrahim.

The Manchester United squad featured first team players Marcos Neumyr, Sam Hewison, Kieran Lee, Frasier Campbell and James Chester. In fact, Neumayr and Campbell played for their first team side in the testimonial match for former club captain Roy Keane at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

"McClair wasn’t just impressed, he told us he was embarrassed by the result as well as they’d expected to steamroll us. He was particularly impressed with our speed, technical ability and fitness," added Ibrahim.

Rajagopal, on the other hand, chose to play down the results, sticking to his aim, which is the AFC Asian Youth Championships. "The purpose is still to get the boys as much exposure as possible and build their confidence against bigger, more physical players. Let’s not get too excited and give the boys unnecessary pressure," said Rajagopal.

"Give them room, let’s have some patience and you’ll see the real results in three or four years.
"Right now, the results are secondary. As I’ve always said the aim is the Asian Youth Championships, and that is still our first objective."

The squad heads for Slovakia for a three-match series tomorrow, where they will face two club sides, before taking on the Slovakian under-20 side on May 18.

Well i suppose this calls for the 'Malaysia Boleh' spirit! Wicked news. Sure hope it all works out well for the squad! This also definitely spells good news for the future of Malaysian football! Lets hope the boys keep their heads on the ground and not let this slip away and pull a 'Titus James Palani.' Some malaysian kid who made it into the Le Harve football academy in france and couldnt live up to all that hype and well he's somehow dissappeared into thin air.

Oh and i came across the FA of Malaysia's website in my search. Looks pretty neat! For my fellow malaysians, check it out HERE.

Tackled By The Red Devil at 6:11 PM,
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