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New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Dollah Salleh tips Harimau Malaya to shock big guns
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia may be newcomers at the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup, but Datuk Dollah Salleh believes Harimau Malaya are ready to spring a surprise. The former international, who is now a FAM vice president, said the quality and depth of the current squad give Malaysia a real chance of causing upsets at the Central Asian tournament. "I wouldn't be surprised if Malaysia cause an upset. This is an opportunity to show what we're truly capable of. We've proven ourselves by beating Vietnam. That win shouldn't be seen as a one-off," said Dollah. Malaysia, ranked 131st in the world, are in Group B with hosts Tajikistan (104th), defending champions Iran (18th) and Afghanistan (160th). Dollah believes Malaysia's current generation of players are mentally and tactically prepared. "Iran were already among the best when I played them, and they've maintained that level. But even back then, we had chances against them. We lost 2-0, but we weren't outclassed. "If our players maintain the same hunger and performance as we saw against Vietnam (Malaysia won 4-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier in Kuala Lumpur on June 10), then Iran isn't an issue. It's about how we play, not who we play." Dollah, one of Malaysia's most decorated footballers, helped the national team beat South Korea 3-1 in the 1993 Merdeka Tournament. "To me, there's not much difference now. We can make a surprise. This is the best team we've had in a long time, so why not?" he said. Malaysia's participation in CAFA will also help the team prepare for their 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Malaysia, under coach Peter Cklamovski, will begin their CAFA campaign against hosts Tajikistan on Aug 29 in Dushanbe before facing Iran on Sept 1 and Afghanistan on Sept 4. Group A, in Tashkent, features hosts Uzbekistan (world No. 57), Kyrgyzstan (103rd), Turkmenistan (142nd) and Oman (77th). Uzbekistan, like Iran, have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, raising the competitive standard of the CAFA tournament even further.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
We've got your back
Dangerous situation: South Africa's Calvin Davis (left) attempting to score against Malaysia's Amirul Azahar (second from right) in the Nations Cup match on June 14.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
MHC stand by coach Sarjit despite poor Nations Cup display
Former national hockey coach, Sarjit Singh during the interview at Star Kuching office. PETALING JAYA: National hockey team head coach Sarjit Singh has the full backing of the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) despite a poor sixth-place finish at the recent Nations Cup on home turf. The governing body believe Sarjit is still the right man for the job and the senior team are in good hands. MHC president Datuk Seri Subahan Kamal said the blame does not only fall on the head coach but the players need to take responsibility as well for failing to reach the semi-finals. "As president, I can see that the players can compete against any big team in the world. The team performed well, but because of some mistakes by players, we did not get the result we wanted. "This is not on the coach but the players as well. They play a role and in the end, they are the ones who will determine if we walk away with a win or a loss," said Subahan during a press conference yesterday.
