When the AFF Suzuki Cup gets underway next month there will be more than 200 players hoping to have a celebration as the final concludes on December 15, but before that there are plenty amongst that number who will be having a smaller party of their own given that their birthday falls during the six-week extravaganza.

Each of the ten nations will likely have a birthday boy amongst their ranks, with outsiders Timor-Leste heading the list given they have a quartet of players – Candido, Jorge Victor, Domingos Ramos and star forward Henrique (pictured below) – set to blow out the candles should they progress from beyond the group stage.

In total, no fewer than 31 players who were selected in their nation’s preliminary squad are set to celebrate their big day during the competition, with a couple of those fortunate to even do so during one of the various matchdays.

Young Cambodian defender Yue Safy turns 18 on the opening day of the tournament as the Angkor Warriors host Malaysia, whilst Laos’ Vanna Bounlovongsa will be 20 as his nation travels to Cambodia for their fourth match.

GROUP A BIRTHDAY BOYS

CAMBODIA

Yue Safy (November 8) – Turning 18

Um Vichet (November 27) – Turning 25

Brak Thiva (December 5) – Turning 20

LAOS

Bounphachan Bounkong (November 20) - Turning 18

Vanna Bounlovongsa (November 21) - Turning 20

Keoviengphet Lithideth (November 30) – Turning 26

MALAYSIA

Syazwan Zainon (November 13) – Turning 29 (Pictured above)

Darren Lok (November 14) – Turning 28

Rodney Kelvin Akwensivie (November 25) – Turning 22

MYANMAR

Aee Soe (November 15) – Turning 22

Thein Than Win (November 25) –Turning 27

Lwin Moe Aung (December 10) - Turning 19

VIETNAM

Nguyen Hoang Quoc Chi (December 4) – Turning 27

Tran Dinh Hoang (December 8) – Turning 27

Whilst there are no birthdays slated to fall on the final itself, there will be plenty hoping for a double celebration if they reach the semis. Thai starlet Supachai Jaided and his teammate Sumanya Purisay as well as Timorese stars, Jorge Victor and Henrique, and young Cambodian midfielder Brak Thiva are all set to turn a year older during those final four clashes.

Yue Safy and rising Laos star Bounphachan Bounkong will be the youngest of the birthday boys as they turn 18 during the AFF Suzuki Cup whilst Azkals veteran Angel Guirado will be the elder statesman of the list as his 34th birthday falls on December 9.

So if you’re heading along to any of the action on those days, make sure to sing a little happy birthday tune for those looking for a party within the party.

GROUP B BIRTHDAY BOYS

INDONESIA

Lerby Eliandry (November 21) – Turning 27

Rizky Pora (November 22) – Turning 29

Andik Vermansyah (November 23) – Turning 27

PHILIPPINES

Joshua Dutosme (November 23) – Turning 23

Carli De Murga (November 30) – Turning 30

Dylan De Bruyckner (December 5) – Turning 21

Angel Guirado (December 9) – Turning 34

SINGAPORE

Hariss Harun (November 19) – Turning 28

Afiq Yunos (December 10) - Turning 28

Izzdin Shafiq (December 14) - Turning 28

THAILAND

Kroekrit Thawikan (November 19) – Turning 28

Supachai Chaided (December 1) - Turning 20

Sumanya Purisay (December 5) – Turning 32

TIMOR-LESTE

Candido (December 2) – Turning 21

Domingos Ramos (December 3) – Turning 22

Jorge Victor (December 5) – Turning 23

Henrique (December 6) – Turning 21