NO ROOM FOR MISTAKES: SHUKOR

While Shukor admits that the team is in their best possible shape for the tournament in Phuket, still there is the worry that consistency might be an issue for a side which had recently faltered in the final of the Merdeka Tournament.

Apart from Laos, the other opponents in Group B are hosts Thailand and Vietnam.

“For us to go far in this tournament, we have to be consistent in every match that we play in and that means all the players must realize their duty when they are on the field of play,” said Shukor.

“In the last friendly we played (against Singapore), we only played well in the second half and not in the first. We must avoid that.

“As the captain, it is the duty of every player to correct the image of the country in the region and also return the faith that coach Sathia has placed on them.”

In the meantime, Shukor felt that it was a good move to have the Group B matches played in Phuket and not Vietnam.

“At the very least, we now have an even chance of beating them (Vietnam) and make the semi-finals,” added Shukor.

“It would have been hard to play Vietnam at home.”