Paulo Josue urges Harimau Malaya fans to fill stadium despite Man Utd hype
Josue. Photo from Malaysia NT Facebook
SHAH ALAM – Harimau Malaya naturalised player, Paulo Josue hopes fans will fill the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras to support the national squad as they face Cape Verde in an international friendly on Thursday.
The experienced midfielder believes fan support is crucial for the squad led by Peter Cklamovski, even though the match takes place just a day after the high-profile game between Manchester United and the Asean All-Stars at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.
For the record, 70,000 tickets have been sold for the English Premier League (EPL) giant's match against the Asean All-Stars, a team comprised of top players from across the region.
'This is the first time Manchester United are back in Malaysia. The EPL is extremely popular here, with many fans watching their matches every morning or night.
"Even though their EPL performance hasn't been very impressive lately, they're still a big global brand. I hope they enjoy their time in Kuala Lumpur, including the stadium atmosphere and the warm welcome from Malaysian fans.
"At the same time, I also hope local football fans will come and support Harimau Malaya the next day. The presence of supporters means a lot to us,' he said during the pre-match press conference on Wednesday.
The Kuala Lumpur City captain views the match against 72nd-ranked Cape Verde as an important test to gauge Harimau Malaya's true capabilities when facing a high-level team.
'It's definitely going to be tough for us, but matches like this are very important — playing against strong teams shows where we really stand in terms of physical and mental strength.
"It's a big challenge, but it's something we must face. It'll also be a great experience for all of us. The opposing team will also be competing in the World Cup and have a higher ranking, as everyone knows. So, of course, it'll be a tough battle for us. But we're excited to take them on and see how big the gap really is between us and them,' he said.
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