Thailand has called up talented football players to join the AFF U22 Youth Football Championship scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from 17-26 February, in the hope of winning the title.

16-year-old talent Suphanat Mueanta (C) of Thailand (Photo: www.goal.com)

Coach Alexandre Gama brought 16-year-old talent Suphanat Mueanta to the tournament, who is Vietnamese player Luong Xuan Truong’s companion at Buriram United of Thailand.

He already had his name written in the record books last year when he became the youngest player to ever play in the Thai League. He shot a double in Buriram United’s 5-0 win over Air Force Central in the tournament. At that time, he was 15 years, nine months, and 22 days old.

Under the national U16 football squad, the Thai rising star scored 19 goals in 16 matches. He also contributed four goals to Thailand’s U19 team.

Other stars present at the AFF U22 Youth Football Championship will be Hassawat Nopnate and Korrawit Tasa. They both are playing for Muangthong United of Thailand.

Thailand will send its best team to the championship, while Singapore, Laos, and Brunei all withdrew from the tournament, leaving just eight teams participating.

The teams have been separated into two groups of four. Each team will play against one another once in the group stage so as to determine which four teams will progress to the semi-finals. The losers of the semifinals will play each other in a 3rd and 4th place playoff on the same day as the finals.

Thailand are in Group A with Vietnam, Timor Leste, and the Philippines. Group B consists of Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

(Source: VNA)