Singapore captain Dhaniyah Qasimah hopes to lead by example at AFF U-19 Women’s C’ship

SINGAPORE – The armband may just be a piece of material around the sleeve but to Dhaniyah Qasimah, it is a reminder of her responsibility to contribute to the team in different ways.

The 18-year-old will captain Singapore at the upcoming Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-19 Women’s Championship and is one of only two players in the 23-member squad with senior caps. She has played 24 times for the Lionesses, while defender Irsalina Irwan has three international caps.

The tournament kicked off on Wednesday in Indonesia. The Republic face Vietnam on Thursday in Group B and then Causeway rivals Malaysia on Saturday, with both games in Palembang.

Dhaniyah is relishing her new role in her final youth tournament. She said: “I feel incredibly honoured and grateful… I am filled with a sense of determination and readiness to give my absolute best.

“I want to leave the tournament knowing that I’ve left everything on the field and have no regrets.”

She hopes her experience with the senior team will benefit this youthful side. Nine players are from the U-16 squad who finished second in the first round of April’s U-17 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers but did not advance.

The Tanjong Pagar midfielder, who made her senior international debut in 2019, noted: “I can share valuable insights and strategies that may help them navigate through high-pressure situations.

“An example I’ve learnt is to always strive in maintaining a positive mindset in the face of challenges. At the end of the day, we know ourselves best and can determine whether we have truly improved or not.”

She featured in all three games for the Lionesses at the recent Cambodia SEA Games, where the team lost 4-0 to Thailand and 1-0 to Cambodia but beat Laos 2-1 to finish third in the group.

That experience was priceless to Dhaniyah. She said: “It became evident that supporting one another, both on and off the pitch, and maintaining a positive attitude were crucial elements for success.

“I have learnt to face challenges with resilience and determination, which has greatly influenced my development as a player and an individual.”

She added: “After each match, I pick myself up, learn from the experience and strive to improve in the next game. Now I go into matches being confident in my abilities and trusting that my teammates will have my back.” 

Singapore U-19 coach Fazrul Nawaz, who was the Lionesses’ assistant coach at the SEA Games in Phnom Penh, backed Dhaniyah to thrive as a leader.

The former national striker, 37, said: “Her experience and maturity make her well-suited for this role, and we have confidence in her ability to guide and inspire the team.”

This is his first major coaching assignment and he has been in charge for about a month. He said it was Lionesses coach Karim Bencherifa who persuaded him to seize the opportunity.

Fazrul, who last played in the Singapore Premier League in 2021 with Tampines Rovers, is targeting a better showing than the 2022 AFF U-19 campaign. Also held in Indonesia, Singapore lost to Indonesia (1-0), Vietnam (9-0) and Thailand (6-0) before grabbing a 1-1 draw with Cambodia to finish last in their group.

Fazrul said: “I aim for the team to continually improve, display their skills, strive to push their boundaries and showcase their capabilities on the field.

“I want to cultivate an environment where players have confidence in their abilities, face challenges without fear and believe in their potential to perform at their best level.”