U-23, U-16 football teams have bumpy period ahead of agendas

AMMAN — The U-23 national team regrouped on Saturday as it prepares for a four-nation friendly in Slovakia set for September 2-9, before the first West Asian Championship kicks off on September 29.

Jordan will join the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan at the friendly tourney which coach Jamal Abed described of ‘’utmost importance ahead of the West Asian Championship.” He noted that U-23 team squad did not have enough friendlies while other squads in the region train all year long and are the main support for national teams. 

With a vital Asian and Olympic agenda ahead, the line-up’s preparedness seems to have gone down the priority list and the team is now hampered by another obstacle with top clubs like Wihdat, Jazira and Ahli, probably not freeing up their players as they prepare for the start of the local agenda.

While Wihdat chairman Tareq Khoury underlined his club have not received a formal letter from the Jordan Football Association to release the players, incoming head coach Imad Khankan said it was impossible to release his players as the team prepare for the local agenda starting August 21.

“Freeing them up once a week is doable, but letting go of 11 players for a friendly tourney as the season is about to begin is objectionable,” said Khankan, adding that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup is Wihdat’s key aim this season in addition to retaining the local titles. The same sentiments were echoed by Ahli and Jazira officials, all gearing up for the local season.

U-23 coach Abu Abed said he expects the full line-up of recalled players to attend practice noting the importance of the AFC U-23 Championship which will be held in Qatar in January 2016, with the 16-team competition also serving as Asia’s qualifying tournament for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The AFC announced the qualifiers to the championship which include Group B champ Jordan in addition to winners of Groups A, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and J (Iraq, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Syria, Australia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan and China) as well five best second-placed teams from all groups — Thailand, Iran, Vietnam, Yemen and Uzbekistan — who will join hosts Qatar at the AFC U-23 Championship in January 12-30, 2016. 

Jordan topped Group B qualifiers in Amman as the team overcame adversity and the change of schedule three times, which observers feared would undermine preparedness and competitive advantage. Jordan held Kuwait 3-3, beat Kyrgyzstan 4-0 and Pakistan 5-0 to advance. 

Over the past year, the U-23 team has impressed observers when it beat South Korea to take bronze at the inaugural AFC U-22 Championship (now renamed the AFC U-23 Championship) as Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to take the title. The same squad also represented Jordan at the Asian Games where they made it to the quarterfinals despite a bumpy preparation period, amid the busy agenda of the national team as well as local clubs. Jordan beat UAE 1-0, India 2-0 and Kyrgyzstan 2-0 in extra time before losing 2-0 to Thailand in the quarters.

U-16 loses friendlies

Meanwhile, the U-16 football team ended its local camp during which they lost two matches to the UAE. The team led in both matches before losing. In the first it led 2-0 before losing 3-2 and in the second led 2-1 before losing 4-2.

Previously the squad only played two friendlies against Palestine whom they beat 2-0 after losing the first match 3-2 

As the 5th West Asian Championship kicks off in Amman on July 29 with Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Palestine and Jordan competing for the title, coach Abdullah Qitati said “more friendlies are vital for the upcoming agenda “.

Following the West Asia event, the U-16 is likely to host its Saudi and Syrian counterparts to put finishing touches ahead of Group B qualifiers for the 2016 AFC U-16 Asian Championship, where Jordan will play alongside Nepal, Oman and Kyrgyzstan from 12 -20 September in Kyrgyzstan.

India will host the 2016 AFC U-16 championship with a total of 45 nations, including the hosts participating in the qualifiers and the draw seeding based on the rankings from the last edition in 2014 won by North Korea . The 45 nations were divided into two qualifying zones — West Zone with 24 teams and East Zone with 21 teams. Eleven group winners and four best second-placed teams will qualify for the finals, with hosts India receiving an automatic qualification (total 16 teams). In case India finishes top of its qualifying group or among the four best second-placed teams, the next (5th) second best placed nation will qualify for the final competition.

Jordan was eliminated from the 2014 AFC U-16 qualifiers held in Amman after finishing last in Group D. Jordan lost to Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia 2-1, and drew 4-4 with Syria.