Date: January 21st 2009
Time: 8:45PM
Venue: Stadium Bolasepak Kuala Lumpur, Cheras
Ticket:RM10 (adult) RM5 (kids)

Group C consist of Malaysia, UAE and Uzbekistan will start their campaign for Asia Cup 2011 qualifier on 21^st January 2009. The first group C match will held in KLFA Stadium in Cheras where Malaysia as home team will entertain UAE. India suppose to be include in this group, but they been given automatic qualifier for Asia Cup 2011 in Doha, Qatar.

With three teams competing, two teams from each group will qualify to final. Malaysia after receiving automatic entry for previous Asia Cup in 2007 as the host should use this opportunity to qualify based on merit since only three teams playing Group C. The last time Malaysia qualified based on merit is 29 years ago at Kuwait in 1980 and 1976 in Iran.

For Malaysia vs UAE match, Malaysia is without their captain Shukor Adan who suffered knee injury, Rosdi Talib with ankle injury and goalkeeper Syed Adney Syed Hassan. For record, the last time Malaysia and UAE met is in 2007 for a friendly match in Malaysia where Malaysia lost 1-3 to the Middle East, UAE. Malaysia goal was scored by Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli.

At the moment UAE is ranked 114^th while Malaysia are 158^th in FIFA world ranking. On paper UAE should win this match, however B. Sathianathan hoping to surprise their opponent since they playing in front of their home supporters.

Malaysia’s fixtures:

2009

January 21, 2009 – Malaysia v UAE

November 14, 2009 – Uzbekistan v Malaysia

November 18, 2009 – Malaysia v Uzbekistan

2010

January 6, 2010 – UAE v Malaysia

Malaysia Squad

Goalkeeper: Farliza Marlias (Perlis), Syed Adney Syed Hussein, (UPB-MyTeam), Syamsuri Mustaffa (T-Team)


Defence: Fauzi Nan (Perlis), V Thirumurugan, Shafizan Hashim (Kedah), S Subramaniam (Perak), Norhafiz Zamani Misbah (KL Plus), Kaironnisam Sahabudin Husain (UPB-MyTeam), Aidil Zafuan Abdul Radzak (Negeri Sembilan), Daudsu Jamaluddin (Kelantan), Rosdi Talib (T-Team)


Midfield: Marzuki Yusof ( Terengganu), Baddrol Bakhtiar, Khyril Muhymeen Zambri (Kedah), Hardi Jaafar, Amirulhadi Zainal (Selangor), Fadzli Shaari (KL Plus), Shukor Adan (Negeri Sembilan), Indra Putra Mahayuddin (Kelantan), Ashaari Samsudin (Terengganu), Hairuddin Omar (T-Team)


Striker: Safee Sali (Selangor), Zaquan Adha Abdul Radzak (Negeri Sembilan), Norfarhan Mohamad (Kelantan), Norsharul Idlan Talaha (UPB-MyTeam), Nizaruddin Yusof (Perlis).