KUALA LUMPUR - The centralised training camp at National Stadium, Bukit Jalil which began yesterday has lifted the national football squad’s spirit as they count down to the 2022 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup second round qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this June.
Harimau Malaya returned to their official training grounds for the first time since carving two consecutive victories over Thailand and Indonesia in their Group G qualifying campaign in November 2019.
Team captain Mohamad Aidil Zafuan Abd Radzak said he and his teammates were lucky to be able to gather at the National Stadium before leaving for UAE to play their remaining matches against their hosts, Vietnam and Thailand.
"For me, it is the dream of every player in the country to train and play at the National Stadium, so I hope the aura here can help us when we compete at the UAE,” he said during a virtual media conference here today.
Malaysia beat Thailand 2-1 and defeated Indonesia 2-0 at the National Stadium in their qualifiers, which were also their last international matches before the qualifiers were postponed following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The two wins propelled Malaysia to second place in Group G and now they are in a good position to book an automatic berth to the 2023 Asian Cup finals and the third round qualifiers of the 2022 World Cup.
Meanwhile, head coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who was also excited to be back helming the training camp, admitted that the venue brought back memories of their wins to his charges, which would spur them on during their UAE campaign.
"I feel that it’s enough to motivate us, the players can relive how it was when they beat both Thailand and Singapore. It will motivate us very well for the qualifying campaign,” the 52-year-old coach said.
The national squad had used a venue owned by Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) in Johor Bahru for the training camp last March.
Malaysia are expected to depart for UAE on Thursday to continue an intensive training session there and will play the UAE on June 3, Vietnam (June 11) and wrap their second group qualifiers up against Thailand on June 15.
The national squad will, however, play two friendly matches against Kuwait in the UAE this Sunday, and Bahrain in Manama on May 28, before starting their qualifying campaign. - Bernama, May 18, 2021
