'Harimau should pounce on rare Nations Cup opportunity'
Former international Jamal said this means Malaysia will not have to play the same old faces again in the region. And the national side get to prove themselves against more physical and tactically advanced nations.
"Going to the Cafa Nations Cup is good exposure for our team because there are higher-ranked teams there. These are Arab nations, and we've had little exposure to them and we always lose. So now we have a chance to prove that we are better," he said.
Jamal pointed out that playing against the World Cup-qualified sides will give Malaysia a better sense of where they stand and what needs to be improved.
"It will help a lot because we are playing against World Cup teams and we get to see whether our standard is coming up. We can head in that direction if we perform well during this tournament," he said.
Jamal credited Regent of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim and Fifa council member Tan Sri Hamidin Amin for using their networks to get Malaysia into the Nations Cup.
He also supports the national team's move to "play less against Asean teams" and focus more on matches outside the region.
"It's not that we belittle Asean teams, but we must move forward. Playing Arab nations is the best decision, and I credit those responsible.
"If we perform well in these Arab tournaments, I'm confident Malaysia will improve even further and can take on bigger teams after this. I believe we can qualify for the final round of the Asian Cup," he said.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that there will be a joint restructuring of the country's youth football development programme in July by the Youth and Sports Ministry, FAM, the Education and Higher Education Ministries.
Jamal welcomed the move, saying it aligns with national ambitions and his hope to see Malaysia reach the highest level in global football.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
40 minutes ago
- The Star
Rugby-I struggle to comprehend 'social media poison' says Farrell
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - British & Irish Lions v Argentina - Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland - June 20, 2025 Owen Farrell before the match REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne/File Photo (Reuters) -Former England captain Owen Farrell says he does not understand the social media "poison" that often surrounds top level sport and that contributed to him walking away from international rugby after the 2023 World Cup. The 33-year-old was named by his father, British & Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell, as captain for Tuesday's match against a First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne, after joining the tour as replacement for the injured Elliot Daly. He has not played a test since stepping back from national duty in November 2023 to prioritise his mental health, before joining French side Racing 92, returning to Saracens in June. "I understand times are different and things catch fire quicker. Things grow legs, take a life of their own, go wherever they go and there's momentum behind them. But no, I don't always understand it," Farrell told reporters on Monday, when asked about the online discourse. "Both are a poison... the good and the bad. Not to say that it's all bad, but the things that should matter to me and should matter to us as players are the people that matter to us." Racist abuse online forced England women's footballer Jess Carter to step away from social media on Sunday, with the defender saying she had been a target since Euro 2025 began. Farrell previously spoke out against social media abuse when he condemned the online vitriol faced by England flanker Tom Curry during the 2023 World Cup after he accused a South African opponent of abusing him during a match. "I guess the people I think we should listen to are the proper rugby people, your mates. Not that those people will just pat you on the back," Farrell said. "You have people who will tell you where it is at the same time, but they will give you a real answer. If you do that and you are in a good place yourself, then you can deal with it." (Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in BengaluruEditing by Christian Radnedge)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Cricket-Dawson back in England team after eight-year absence for fourth test v India
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - ICC Cricket World Cup Warm-Up Match - England Press Conference - Hampshire Bowl, Southampton, Britain - May 24, 2019 England's Liam Dawson during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Peter Cziborra/File Photo (Reuters) -England's Liam Dawson has been named in the team to play India in the fourth test of the series at Old Trafford, England's cricket board (ECB) announced on Monday, marking the spinner's first test appearance in eight years. The 35-year-old Hampshire left-armer, who replaces the injured Shoaib Bashir, is the only change to the team for the fourth test which begins on Wednesday. Dawson has not played a test match since earning his third test cap in July 2017. Dawson, an unused member of the 2019 World Cup winning squad, did feature in the Twenty20 series against West Indies in June. Bashir suffered a fracture to his finger during the third test at Lord's, which England won by 22 runs to take a 2-1 lead, leaving them one victory away from clinching their first five-match series win since 2018. England team: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer. (Reporting by Trevor StynesEditing by Christian Radnedge)
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Former England star Gascoigne recovering after collapse at home
LONDON: Paul Gascoigne is recovering in hospital after the former Tottenham and England star collapsed at his home. Gascoigne was rushed to hospital by his driver and assistant Steve Foster, who found the 58-year-old in a semi-conscious state in his Dorset house. "Paul is in hospital, which is the best possible place for him to be right now," Foster told The Sun newspaper. Gascoigne was reportedly admitted to an intensive care ward after being discovered on Friday, but later moved to an acute medical unit, where his condition is said to be stable. Foster said Gascoigne would "like to thank everyone for the support he's received so far from so many old friends who wish him well and want to see him back to his best." One of the most naturally gifted footballers of his generation, Gascoigne played for Newcastle, Tottenham, Lazio, Rangers, Middlesbrough and Everton. He was capped 57 times by England, becoming a global star after his brilliant form at the 1990 World Cup in Italy reached a tearful crescendo with his emotional reaction to a yellow card, which would have ruled him out of the final, in a last four loss against West Germany. Gascoigne also starred for England during their run to the Euro 96 semi-finals, where they again lost to Germany on penalties. The midfielder's issues with alcohol addiction and depression are well-documented and he has suffered a series of health problems in recent years. In 2020, Gascoigne said he had turned his life around after having anti-alcohol pellets sewn into his stomach. But last year, he admitted on the High Performance podcast that he was a "sad drunk" living in a spare room at the home of his agent. - AFP
