Harimau Muda eye top-five spot in 2012 S-League

Malaysia's soccer team celebrates with their coach Ong Kim Swee (in blue) after defeating Indonesia in a penalty shoot-out during their SEA Games soccer final at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium in Jakarta late November 21, 2011. PHOTO: Reuters

FRESH from leading the Malaysian Under-23 team to the SEA Games gold, Ong Kim Swee is already looking ahead to the challenges that lie ahead in 2012.

The coach named a youthful 28-man Harimau Muda side – with an average age of about 19 – which will compete in the S-League next year, but that has not stopped him from setting the side an ambitious target.

"The Football Association of Malaysia has not set me any targets with this team, but I want my boys to finish in the top five of the S-League next year," he told The New Paper yesterday.

More in The New Paper on Thursday (Dec 22).