The Singapore Under-20 Women’s Team concluded their AFC Under-20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-1 loss to Hong Kong, China on Sunday (10 August) with Fazrul Nawaz urging his charges to keep their chin up and carry the courage and positive attitude they displayed in Hanoi into the future.
“They were brave to play the football that we wanted them to play. They showed fighting spirit and a ‘never give up’ attitude. They should bring these three things forward into the future and they will get it one day,” said Fazrul.
“And once they get it, it will flow smoothly for the team.”
Despite eventually succumbing to defeat against Hong Kong, Singapore were finally able to break their goal duck courtesy of Geylang International midfielder Kyra Taylor. The 19-year-old intercepted the ball high up the pitch and surged down the right flank before her ball into the box deflected off Hong Kong defender Cheng Tsz Ting, looping over the opposition goalkeeper for the team’s first goal of the qualifiers.
“The goal was a morale-booster… After so many chances they created throughout the past two matches, it finally paid off.” Fazrul said.
The team wheeled away in collective celebration after scoring the opener, a moment that underlined their strong team spirit.
“I’m very happy because the girls are very united. They’ve stayed together, stayed positive, and have always maintained that positivity. To see them celebrate in that way was really pleasing for me,” said Fazrul who reserved special praise for Kyra.
“The way she stepped up in this campaign, she showed that she wants to be not only a good leader, she wants to show that she really wants to push the team to the next level,” he said.
Looking back on the goals he set out for his team at the start, the former Singapore international added, “I wanted to see them fighting every game to show that they can compete at this level – and they achieved that. It’s just that now they need to believe that they can get the results that they want.”
For Madrid CFF defender Natasha Naszri, who started Singapore’s first two matches and came on in the 53rd minute for the last, there was a sense of pride in the team’s effort, mixed with a tinge of regret.
“It was disappointing that we didn’t win but we came close. We didn’t get the result that we needed but I think that the girls and everyone in the team did their best. And the effort (we gave) was 100 per cent. We will take this as a learning opportunity and look forward,” Natasha said.
Highlighting several standout performers over the series of matches, Fazrul expressed confidence that his players had shown growth throughout the campaign.
He said: “They showed that they can compete. So I think they need to continue to learn and grow and believe that they can go to the senior team and perform at that level.”
Having missed out on the final tournament of the Asian Cup, Fazrul left his players with some words of advice.
“We must maintain that focus throughout the 90 minutes and not only during the moments, that’s the thing that I felt that they need to improve on,” said Fazrul. “And of course, to be responsible and to be accountable for their performance on the pitch.”
