Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Yangon: Coach Ravshan Khaydarov called on his Uzbekistan players to display the same spirit that won them the AFC U-16 Championship two years ago in this month's AFC U-19 Championship ahead of their Group B opener against Indonesia on Friday at Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium.
The White Wolves were semi-finalists in the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship but that achievement was topped the same year by the Uzbekistan under 16 side, who claimed a maiden title victory at the AFC U-16 Championship, edging Japan in the final on penalties.
And with several of those players now in Khaydarov's U-19 side, the manager is intent on emerging triumphant from a Group B that includes Indonesia, Australia and United Arab Emirates, and going on to challenge for the title, in addition to the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup ticket available to the four teams that reach the semi-finals in Myanmar.
"Of course winning the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship gave us a boost, we gained a lot of experience from that but our squad is renewed, we have new players but our goals remain the same," said Khaydarov (pictured), who has defender Akramjon Komilov suspended for their tournament opener.
"We have three goals: qualify from the group, qualify for the World Cup and win the competition.
"We have come here to win the championship for our fans supporting us back home."
Opponents Indonesia, by contrast, have not qualified for the AFC U-19 Championship since 2004 and have not reached the quarter-finals of the competition since 1978. While this might make them underdogs this doesn't mean that coach Indra Syafri lacks ambition.
"We have been absent from this tournament for a long time but this is competition for us is not about winning or losing, it is about how our young generation perform at this level," said Syafri.
Also on Friday at Yangon's Thuwunna Youth Training Centre Stadium, 2012 semi-finalists Australia will take on 2008 champions United Arab Emirates.
The Young Socceroos have never failed to progress from the group stages of these championships but suffered an upset at last month's AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) U-19 Championship when they left winless.
"We learnt there are no easy opponents, but that knowledge and experience will hopefully help us as we move into this tournament," said Australia coach Paul Okon.
"There have been changes from the AFF U-19 Championship; some are due to injuries, while others who weren't available for that tournament are here now.
"It's a very difficult group, the teams all have expectations to qualify certainly for the quarter-finals and even for the last four in order to go to the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand."
Rounding out the group are the United Arab Emirates who despite their famous victory in 2008 struggled on home soil when they failed to qualify from the group stages while hosting the tournament in 2012.
"We are happy to be here with the team because it will be a very strong championship and we have prepared well," said UAE coach Abdulla Mesfer.
"But we lost nine of our players for military service, which has obviously has a huge impact."