National Under-22 (U-22) football squad coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee will begin selecting his starting lineup for the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games 2017, after the Aidilfitri celebration.

He said the process will begin after the players returned to their respective clubs after the Hari Raya break.

"We will recall all the players on July 5. Right now, it is too early for me to decide," he told reporters after the friendly match against Melaka United at the Hang Jebat Stadium here last night, during which the home side stunned the U-22 squad, 5-1.

Kim Swee, who recently took charge of handling the U-22 squad, promised to name the starting lineup before the Asian Football Confederation's U-23 qualifiers in Bangkok next month.

Commenting on the friendly match, Kim Swee said the players were tired after undergoing a tight schedule for the past two to three days after returning from their eight-day tour in China.

"In the first half, we are able to compete well with some good movement, taking a 1-0 lead at the beginning of the match.

"In the second half, we lost focus and conceded two goals early, however, all the players are free from injury and are in good condition," he said.

Meanwhile, U-22 team manager Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi said he was satisfied with the performance of Kim Swee's squad which showed good cohesiveness and high spirit despite losing the match.

He said fatigue was the main factor affecting the young national squad, and he was personally convinced of their ability to succeed in Bangkok later.

"As for the SEA Games, I am confident that the SEA Games Project team is capable of at least advancing to the final," added Mahadi, who is also deputy president of the Melaka United Soccer Association.

-- BERNAMA