The Singapore Men’s Under-19 National Team will kick off a pivotal calendar year with two closed-door international friendlies against the Jordan U19 National Team, as preparations begin for a demanding year of regional and continental competition.
The matches, scheduled for 13 and 16 February in Singapore, represent the first major benchmarks for the squad as they build towards their key tournament commitments in the months ahead.
The U19s’ packed calendar this year is headlined by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U19 Championship, which will take place in Indonesia from 1 to 14 June, before they shift focus to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers that are scheduled between 29 September and 6 October.
With limited opportunities for centralised training at this age-group level, every window takes on added importance. These two matches against Jordan are more than just early-season fixtures – they will form the foundation of the team’s competitive readiness.
For midfielder Rae Peh, the opportunity to don the national colours is a privilege that carries deep personal meaning.
Rae Peh in action during training.
“I think it means a lot. I’m really proud to be able to wear this jersey and to represent my country. I just want to give my best,” he said.
Midfielder Prince Rio highlighted the importance of these fixtures in helping build cohesion.
“We’re still a new team so I think it’s good to have these two friendly games so that we gel as a team, build that bond and be comfortable with each other,” he said.
Defender Zeeshan Dzulkarnain is equally excited. He is relishing the opportunity to test himself.
Zeeshan Dzulkarnain in action during training.
“For me it’s been a while since I’ve played against international opposition, so it will be very exciting. It’ll be good for me to gauge myself, to see where I can improve and where I can develop coming towards the competitions,” he said.
Jordan’s U19s are expected to provide a physical and tactical challenge, offering a valuable early indicator of where the team stands as attention gradually turns toward June’s AFF Championship. With limited time together, the emphasis within the squad is on maximising every session and every minute on the pitch.
“I think we have to go to each training and each match with a high intensity and to compete at the highest level that we can,” Rae added.
“I think our team will be able to do so if we just take each game and each training, one step at a time.”
