KUALA LUMPUR: R. Kogileswaran may have just improved his chances of making the final squad for the National Under-23 team that will be taking part in the upcoming Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Under-23 Championship in China next month thanks to the goal he scored in the friendly match against Honam University in South Korea yesterday.
However, the 19-year-old player admits that he cannot take his foot of the pedal just yet, in fact, he has to step things up to ensure that he makes shortlisted team sheet for the championship.
“The goal I scored yesterday has definitely helped me gain more confidence, but I cannot be too confident, as it does not guarantee my place in the team, as competition is stiff and all of us still have two friendly matches to play to prove ourselves to coach Ong Kim Swee as to who deserves to be in the team for the championship.
“So I will be working very hard and trying to keep up the good performance to prove my worth and stake my claim for a place in the team. I know that I can do better.
“Whatever it is, there are a lot of changes that has taken place after centralised training sessions in Kuala Lumpur and here in South Korea. I am happy to say that I have managed to adapt to the cold weather here which has not hurt my performance on the field,” he said when contacted earlier today.
During the friendly match against Honam University, the former Frenz United player scored the solitary winning goal of the match with six minutes remaining to give Ong Kim Swee’s squad their first win in a series of friendly matches in South Korea.
In the first friendly match played on Wednesday, the national Under-23 squad were held 1-1 by Mokpo City, with Malaysia’s goal scored by Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) midfielder Syamer Kutty Abba.
Kogileswaran however admits that he does not want to miss out on representing the country once again after he did not make the squad for the qualifying round in Bangkok, Thailand due to injury.
“The disappointment of not being able to make the team that time is giving me the motivation I need to give it my all because I want to play for the country and help the team notch up good results during the championship,” he said.