PUTRAJAYA – It has been a triumphant year for the Malaysian football fraternity as of late following a couple of victories produced by the national football teams.
Harimau Malaya qualified for the 2023 Asian Cup in June, while the under-19 squad Harimau Muda claimed their second Asean Football Federation (AFF) Championship title last week.
Following the successes, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu advised the national teams to keep the momentum going if they wish to stand among the greats.
“Our under-19 team is doing really well. Harimau Malaya has also proved themselves.
“No matter what tournament we win, even if it is the World Cup, we must always strive to work hard and do our best.
“We need to keep the momentum going,” Faizal said after officiating the Malaysia Little League 2022 at Taman Pancarona Mini Stadium today.
Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin also attended the event, following a collaboration between his ministry and Faizal’s that looks to develop new football industry talents through grassroots development via the best sports schools.
Instead of criticising the team for their mistakes, Faizal added, the media and fans alike should also give full support to the national teams, so they will join the world’s greatest one day.
The minister was commenting on the national football teams’ recent achievements.
On June 14, Kim Pan-gon’s squad ended the country’s 42-year wait by qualifying on merit for the Asian Cup after finishing second in Group E of the 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.
They advanced as one of the top five runners-up from six groups.
For the record, the last time Malaysia played the Asian Cup was when they co-hosted the tournament in 2007, but had not qualified on merit since the 1980 edition in Kuwait.
Harimau Muda clinched their second title for the AFF Championship in four years after beating Laos 2-0 in the finals held at Bekasi, Indonesia on July 15. – The Vibes, July 19, 2022
