JDT II, SELANGOR U-23 PLAYERS AMONG FACES IN ACTION AGAINST NEW ZEALAND

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Young players from Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) II and Selangor FC Under (U) - 23 are among the three new faces called up to join the Harimau Malaya's centralised training camp ahead of the friendly against New Zealand at the North Harbour Stadium, Auckland on Oct 14.

They are Selangor goalkeeper Azim Al Amin Kamaruddin, as well as young players from the national U-19 squad who have just returned from the 2025 U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Tajikistan, namely goalkeeper Haziq Aiman ​​Mohd Esa (JDT II) and Haykal Danish Mohd Haizon (Selangor U-23).

National squad head coach Pau Marti Vicente also recalled Sabah FC midfielder Stuart Wilkin who was not with the team during the 2024 Pestabola Merdeka for the training camp starting this Sunday (Oct 6).

Vicente retained 23 of the 26 players from the team that won the Pestabola Merdeka last month to complete a 27-man lineup this time around, while 11 players were placed on the standby list in case of changes to the main lineup.

"The Harimau Malaya squad will depart directly to Auckland on Oct 6 to undergo a week-long centralised training camp for the match against New Zealand on Oct 14 and return home the following day," according to a statement from Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) today.

Malaysia emerged champions of the Pestabola Merdeka after defeating the Philippines 2-1 in the semi-finals on Sept 4 and overcame Lebanon 1-0 in the final on Sept 8 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

List of 27 players called up to centralised training camp:

Standby List: 

-- BERNAMA