With the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers set to kick off on Tuesday, website-AFC.com takes a take a look at eight players who could make a reputation for themselves as they fight for a spot in next yr’s finals in Indonesia.
Hanis Saghara Putra (INDONESIA)
Indonesia are guaranteed a spot within the tournament as hosts, but will still take part in the qualification in Group F, together with South Korea, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Timor-Leste.
Among the players seeking to make an impact will likely be 18-year-old striker Hanis Saghara Putra, who plays for Indonesian third division side Persibo Bojonegoro but has already featured in international tournaments.
Earlier this yr, he was called as much as the Indonesian U19 squad for the distinguished Toulon Tournament, where the Southeast Asian teams faced Scotland, the Czech Republic and Brazil.
The young striker scored in the ultimate group game against Scotland and can now look to proceed his good goalscoring form within the upcoming qualifiers.
Mohammed Dawood (Iraq)
Mohammed Dawood, undoubtedly one in every of the celebs of the qualifying campaign, could have quite a bit on his plate as he looks to shine in one other international tournament for Iraq.
Dawood was in excellent form on the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in Goa, where he led Iraq to the title and was voted the tournament’s top scorer and MVP.
To top all of it off, he scored the decisive penalty within the penalty shootout final against the Islamic Republic of Iran, before shining on the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he scored goals against Mexico and Chile within the group stage.
Sadly, he was suspended for the last-16 clash with Mali, which Iraq lost 5-1 without their inspiring star, but Dawood will now be seeking to get revenge at the next level by making his debut for the Under-19s.
Hiroki Abe (JAPAN)
Hiroki Abe is a singular player on this list as he has already played within the AFC Champions League. The 18-year-old striker got here on as an alternative to Kashima Antlers on this yr’s edition.
Although Abe has steadily risen through the ranks at club level, he has also featured for his country’s age group teams in recent times.
Earlier this yr, he featured for Japan on the tournament in Toulon, where they drew with Cuba and Angola before the young Samurai Blue lost to England.
Abe scored his first league goal for Kashima in July and can now look to realize success on the international stage when he features within the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers.
Daniel Arzani (AUSTRALIA)
Sydney-born Daniel Arzani is some of the exciting players to emerge from the Australian youth ranks in recent times.
The central midfielder honed his skills on the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) Centre of Excellence in Canberra before signing for A-League club Melbourne City.
Arzani was a key member of the Australia team that reached the semi-finals of the 2014 AFC U-16 Championship, scoring an Eighty fifth-minute equaliser against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, but ultimately lost on penalties.
A yr later, Arzani was included within the squad that travelled to Chile for the FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he played within the group stage match against Germany.
Majed Rashid (UAE)
Majed Rashid from the United Arab Emirates is generally known as a record holder in his country, having grow to be the youngest goal scorer within the history of the domestic league.
In January this yr, midfielder Ittihad Kalba made history by scoring a goal against Al Shabab at just 16 years of age.
Rashid made 14 appearances for his club within the 2016-17 season and captained the UAE on the AFC U-16 Championship in India, where he scored in a 3-2 opening win over the hosts, although his side eventually lost to Japan within the quarter-finals.
Along with several of his U-16 teammates, Rashid has been called as much as the U-19 squad for the AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers, through which the UAE will face Oman, Bahrain, Nepal and Kyrgyzstan.
Dheeraj Singh (INDIA)
India made history earlier this month when their young internationals played on the FIFA U-17 World Cup, becoming the primary Indian team to feature in a FIFA tournament.
Although the young Blue Tigers were knocked out within the group stage, goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh drew praise for his high quality performances.
In his first appearance at continental level, Singh kept clean sheets against Bahrain and Lebanon in the course of the 2016 AFC Cup qualifiers, helping India qualify for the tournament despite already having secured a spot as hosts.
Singh continued to impress in the ultimate, with an excellent penalty save against the UAE, and the India Under-17 goalkeeper was promoted to the Under-19s, hoping to proceed his rise to fame.
Doan Van Hau (VIETNAM)
Doan Van Hau is the one player on this list who has already played within the AFC U-19 Championship. The left-back played for Vietnam in Bahrain in 2016 on the age of 17.
The Hanoi FC star scored the decisive goal in injury time in a 2-1 win over the Democratic People’s National Team of Korea, and in addition played in a 1-1 draw with the United Arab Emirates.
After missing the ultimate group match against Iraq, Van Hau returned to the pitch to beat hosts Bahrain 1-0 within the quarter-finals before Vietnam’s winning streak was interrupted by Japan within the semi-finals.
Vietnam thus qualified for the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup, through which Van Hau played in all three group matches, although the Southeast Asian team was eliminated in the primary stage of the competition
Arshad Al Alawi (OMAN)
Oman’s talented goal scorer Arshad Al Alawi was in high quality form ahead of the qualifiers, scoring in friendlies against Syria and Mexico.
The striker rose to fame on the continent on the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship in India, where he helped Oman progress from a troublesome group to the quarter-finals.
Al Alawi showed his talent by scoring three of Oman’s 4 goals within the group stage, when the West Asian side topped the table ahead of Iraq and South Korea, before losing on penalties to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
After moving to Sur SC earlier this yr, the striker is now set to guide his country once more as they tackle Bahrain, Nepal, the Kyrgyz Republic and the United Arab Emirates for a spot on the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship.
Source: THE-AFC.com
Photos: Lagardère Sports
