2023-08-29
Skuad Malayan Tigress kendalian Soleen Al-Zoubi secara rasminya akan menyertai siri Perlawanan Antarabangsa Tier 1 di Taif, Arab Saudi dari 18 hingga 30 September 2023.
Kejohanan Women's International Friendly anjuran Konfederasi Bola Sepak Arab Saudi (SAFF) akan menampilkan lima lagi pasukan iaitu Laos, Pakistan, Bhutan, Lebanon dan tuan rumah, Arab Saudi.
Enam pasukan bertanding ini telah diundi ke dalam dua kumpulan berdasarkan ranking pasukan di mana Kumpulan A terdiri daripada Malaysia yang kini di ranking ke-89 dunia, Arab Saudi di kedudukan ke-170 dan Pakistan ke-157 dunia manakala di kumpulan B pula menyaksikan Laos yang di ranking ke-87 dunia bersama Lebanon di kedudukan ke-138 dan Bhutan ke-171 dunia.
Menurut Soleen, Kejohanan Women's International Friendly akan membuka peluang buat Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM) menjalinkan hubungan strategik bersama SAFF.
"Jika kita lihat kepada ranking kesemua pasukan bertanding, ia dapat memberi faedah kepada pelan jangka panjang skuad bola sepak wanita kebangsaan dari aspek teknikal serta memberi peluang untuk mereka beraksi di dalam persekitaran yang berprestasi tinggi.
"Selain itu, kita juga boleh mengadakan program pertukaran sebagai inisiatif pembangunan pemain selain mempersiapkan barisan pemain kebangsaan ini untuk perlawanan-perlawanan antarabangsa di masa hadapan," kata Soleen.
Berdasarkan format perlawanan membabitkan enam pasukan ini, saingan kumpulan akan berlangsung secara liga sepusingan yang mana dua pasukan teratas layak ke separuh akhir pada Rabu, 27 September 2023.
Seterusnya, dua pasukan yang menang akan bertemu di Final manakala dua pasukan yang tewas akan beraksi perlawanan penentuan tempat ketiga pada Ahad, 30 September 2023.
*Siaran media ini dikeluarkan pada Selasa, 29 Ogos 2023
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MEDIA RELEASE: MALAYAN TIGRESS CONFIRMS PARTICIPATION IN THE TIER 1 WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY TOURNAMENT IN TAIF, SAUDI ARABIA, THIS SEPTEMBER
2023-08-29
The Malayan Tigress squad managed by Soleen Al-Zoubi officially confirms their participation in a Tier 1 International friendly series in Taif, Saudi Arabia from 18 to 30 September 2023.
The Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) Women's International Friendly Tournament will feature five more teams namely Laos, Pakistan, Bhutan, Lebanon and the host, Saudi Arabia.
The six participants have been drawn into two groups based on the team's ranking where Group A consists of Malaysia which is currently ranked 89th in the world, Saudi Arabia is ranked 170th and Pakistan is ranked 157th in the world while in Group B will feature Laos which is ranked 87th in the world with Lebanon ranked 138th and Bhutan 171st in the world.
According to Soleen, the Women's International Friendly Tournament will open opportunities for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to establish a strategic relationship with the SAFF.
"If we look at the ranking of the teams, it can benefit the long-term plan of the national women's football squad from a technical aspect as well as being able to play in a high-performance environment.
"In addition to that, we can also hold a player exchange programme as part of the player development initiative besides giving us the chance to prepare the girls for more international matches in the future," said Soleen.
Based on the match format involving the six teams, the group stage will take place in a round-robin league where the top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals on Wednesday, 27 September 2023.
The two winning teams will meet in the Final while the two losing teams will meet on Sunday, 30 September 2023.
The Malayan Tigress squad will go down in the first action against the hosts, Saudi Arabia on Monday, 18 September 2023 and then Palestine on Thursday, 21 September 2023 at King Fadh Sports City Stadium, Al-Taif.
*The media release was issued on Tuesday, 29 August 2023