KUALA LUMPUR (12 July 2012) – Malaysia Yellow were drawn together with defending champions Thailand and former champions Indonesia in Group B, dubbed the group of death, in the 4th Yamaha Asean Cup which kicksoff at the Petaling Jaya Stadium, Kelana Jaya tomorrow.

Vietnam, the winners of the inaugural tournament in Da Nang in 2008, are drawn in Group A together with Malaysia Blue and India, who are making only their second appearance in the tournament.

Both the Malaysian teams will be in action tomorrow with Malaysia Yellow taking on Thailand at 6.10pm while Malaysia Blue will face Vietnam at 4.50pm.

Malaysia Yellow chief coach Haris Lajid said: “We are drawn with the defending champions (Thailand) and former champions Indonesia. This is a group of death but this is football.

“We are game to face any team. It could be a blessing in disguise for us to play the defending champions in the opening match. I should say we have a 50-50 chance and with home-ground advantage things could just fall into our favour.”

A win over Thailand will see Malaysia Yellow take India in the second match which will be played at 7.30pm.

Malaysia Yellow is represented by the Bukit Jalil Sports School and has been training together since the beginning of this year. The team is also competing in the Ministry of Education Under-14 league.

Meanwhile, Malaysia Blue head coach Matt Holland, who celebrated his 24th birthday today, was delighted with the draw and is confident of a win over Vietnam in the opening match.

“We have done enough preparing for this tournament. I have faith in my players who have struck fine teamwork. The series of friendly matches we played showed that we have strength.

Thailand coach Uten Thongprakob said he has come with a new look team and it does not give his team any advantage playing Malaysia (Yellow) in the opening match. “We will be underdogs,” said Uten.

Meanwhile, India arrived with only 11 players for the tournament after running into “technical problems involving passports four players” and hope that there will be no injuries or red cards.

“Of the 11 players, two are goalkeepers but one of them will have to play as an outfield player,” said head coach Chinmoy Sikdar.

YAMAHA ASEAN CUP 2012 DRAW

GROUP A

MALAYSIA BLUE

VIETNAM

INDIA

GROUP B

MALAYSIA YELLOW

THAILAND

INDONESIA

FIXTURES TODAY

Malaysia Blue vs Vietnam (4.50pm)

Malaysia Yellow vs Thailand (6.10pm)

Winner of G1 vs India (7.30pm)

Winner of G2 vs Indonesia (8.50pm)

(All matches at Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya)

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