A host of new faces called up by Karim Bencherifa as four players from the U-16 and U-19 team potentially set to make their senior debut

 

Under-19 midfielder Sarah Zu’risqha is one of the four players that has received their first call-up to the senior team, July 2023. 

 

SINGAPORE, 17 JULY 2023 – Singapore Women’s National Team Head Coach Karim Bencherifa today named a final squad of 20 players for the upcoming international friendly match against Pakistan tomorrow.

 

This time, the squad has witnessed a significant shift, as several seasoned players, including Singapore’s most-capped female player Ernie Sulastri, Izzati Rosni, Dortmund star Danelle Tan, Putri Syaliza, vice-captain Stephanie Dominguez and Lila Tan will be missing due to various reasons. Instead, young talents from the U-16 and U-19 teams respectively have been called up in their steads – Adrianna Hazeri and Sarah Zu’risqha who recently concluded their AFF Under-19 Women’s Championships earlier this year as well as 16-year-old forward Chloe Koh, and 15-year-old midfielder Natasha Naszri, all of whom are set to potentially make their debuts and earn their first senior international cap.

 

Coach Karim gave insights into his process in finalizing the squad: “We carefully assessed the squad options and took several factors into consideration when making our decisions. Performance in recent matches, training sessions, and overall fitness were significant factors in determining the squad composition. We also evaluated how well each player fits into our tactical approach and the specific roles we need to fill. The [aforementioned players] were not called up due to various personal and/or professional reasons. The call-ups from the U-16 and U-19 squads provide an opportunity for promising young talents to develop and gain exposure at the senior level. Nonetheless, the door will always be open, based on merit, for players who possess great playing qualities and a good attitude on and off the pitch”.

 

 

He added that the Pakistan match will be used as a gauge of the team’s performance and readiness for future tournaments: “Our main objective is to use the match as a valuable opportunity for player evaluation, team bonding, and implementing tactical adjustments. The focus is on assessing individual performances, strengthening team dynamics, and refining strategies. Our aim is to field a well-balanced and competitive squad that can perform at its best in the upcoming matches, the preparation for the Asian games and most importantly preparing a squad to compete in the next SEA Games in 2025.”

 

Rosnani Azman, who was a central figure for the Lionesses in the recent SEA Games in Cambodia, is poised to don the captain’s armband in this fixture. Coach Karim shared that the 26-year-old defender, who is also Singapore’s first female footballer to play professionally in Japan, possesses exceptional leadership qualities: “Rosnani has demonstrated a deep understanding of the team’s tactics and possesses excellent decision-making abilities. Her experience and expertise make her a respected figure among her teammates, and she leads by example through her work ethic and dedication. By giving her the armband, we believe she will inspire and guide the team, contributing to their success both individually and collectively.”

 

Rosnani Azman in a recent training session, July 2023. 

 

The 131st-ranked Lionesses are set to take on the visitors, standing 26 places below on the FIFA rankings, on 18 July 2023 at 7.30pm at Jalan Besar Stadium. The match will be broadcasted live on the FAS’s official YouTube page.

 

Tickets are now on sale and are available online from fas.org.sg/tickets as well as http://sistic.com.sg . They are priced at S$10.00 for adults and S$6.00 for concession, excluding booking fees. The concession rate applies to students aged 16 and below, as well as senior citizens aged 60 and above, provided they have a valid concession card.

 

Sale of tickets are also available onsite at the North Gate from 4.30pm to 8.45pm on the match day. However, fans are urged to buy their tickets early online to avoid the queues on match day.

 

Fixtures for Singapore’s Women National Team July International Friendly

Match	Date	Time (SGT)	Venue
Singapore vs Pakistan	Tuesday, 18 July 2023	7.30pm	Jalan Besar Stadium

 

Singapore Women’s National Team Squad for International ‘A’ Friendly

S/N	Name	Pos	Caps	DOB	Club
1	Noor Kusumawati Binte Mohammad Rosman	GK	48	29-Sep-90	Lion City Sailors
2	Beatrice Tan Li Bin	GK	11	29-Jun-92	Lion City Sailors
3	Nur Adrianna Binte Hazeri	DF	0	3-Jul-04	Tanjong Pagar United
4	Irsalina Binte Irwan	DF	3	1-Jan-07	Albirex Niigata (S)
5	Nur Umairah Binte Mohd Hamdan	DF	26	11-Mar-02	Lion City Sailors
6	Siti Rosnani Binte Azman	DF	36	22-May-97	Hougang United
7	Nur Syazwani Binte Mohamad Ruzi	DF	24	20-Dec-01	Lion City Sailors
8	Ho Hui Xin	MF	31	23-Apr-92	Lion City Sailors
9	Rochelle Chan Wan Wen	MF	4	21-Aug-95	Hougang United
10	Nur Farhanah Binte Ruhaizat	MF	35	26-Jul-98	Tampines Rovers
11	Seri Ayu Natasha Binte Naszri	MF	0	19-Dec-07	Lion City Sailors
12	Sitianiwati Binte Rosielin	MF	24	26-May-97	Police Sports Association
13	Venetia Lim Ying Xuan	MF	17	14-Oct-03	Lion City Sailors
14	Khairunnisa Binte Khairol Anwar	MF	9	21-Feb-03	Lion City Sailors
15	Nur Sarah Zu’risqha Binte Zul’kepli	MF	0	24-Jul-06	Albirex Niigata (S)
16	Dhaniyah Qasimah Binte Zamri Abdullah	MF	24	07-Jul-04	Tanjong Pagar United
17	Nur Raudhah Binte Kamis	FW	23	04-Mar-99	Hougang United
18	Farah Nurzahirah Binte Abdul Fattah	FW	0	13-Jan-04	Tanjong Pagar United
19	Chloe Koh Ke Ying	FW	0	18-Feb-07	Lion City Sailors
20	Nicole Lim Yanxiu	FW	6	10-Apr-02	Hougang United

 

CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE

 

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