Latest news with #Under-23
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Another wake-up call for Malaysian football after Asean Under-23 flop
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have just found out sadly that they are not among the top four nations in Under-23 football in Southeast Asia. So, what does that say about Malaysia's chances in the Asian Under-23 qualifier, which is of a much higher level? Can the feeble Harimau Muda knock themselves back in shape for the Under-23 Asian Cup qualifying competition in Thailand from Sept 3-9? Malaysia failed to reach the Under-23 Asean Championship semi-finals in Jakarta last week after losing 2-0 to the Philippines, beating Brunei 7-1 and drawing 0-0 with Indonesia in the past week. Football critic Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim has warned that unless swift action is taken, Malaysia could suffer another early exit in the Asian campaign. "I watched the match against Indonesia. Our players showed they can play under pressure in front of the Indonesian crowd. They were good individually, but the problem is they couldn't score or function as a team," said the AFC Professional Coaching Diploma holder. "The players also seemed to lack match fitness, probably because they're coming off-season. The preparation appears insufficient. By now, there should already be a full analysis of what went wrong and a plan to fix it. "We have barely two months before the Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers. Time is short, but if there's a clear plan, the team can bounce back." Malaysia are drawn in Group F with hosts Thailand, Lebanon and Mongolia in the Asian qualifiers. In the last two editions — 2022 in Uzbekistan and 2024 in Qatar — Malaysia failed to progress past the group stage. Malaysia's best performance was in their debut in 2018 in China, where they reached the quarter-finals before going down 2-1 to South Korea. Zulakbal said that addressing the team's lack of leadership and bite in attack must be a key focus. "The FAM technical committee needs to identify the flaws, formulate solutions, and design training plans to address them. There's not much time, but with proper planning, the team can be in better shape," said Zulakbal. "There is no clear leadership in the squad and the finishing is lacking. These are crucial areas that need to be fixed. The team also need a proper periodisation plan for the qualifiers. "The team have talented players, but they need proper preparation to become a solid, fighting unit. If we don't address the issues, we'll face another heartbreak." Meanwhile coach Nafuzi Zain admitted that his National Under-23 team still have much to improve on. He said preparation and planning must be given serious attention, especially when dealing with young players who have limited international experience. Nafuzi said the current squad are still in the team-building phase and need more time and space to grow. "Overall, there are many things that need to be improved, particularly in terms of team preparation." Nafuzi believes that the Under-23 team have great potential, but they need long-term planning and comprehensive support from all stakeholders. He also called on fans to remain patient and continue supporting the national youth squad.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Toothless' Young Tigers crash out of U-23 Asean Championship
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia crashed out of the Under-23 Asean Championship after a disappointing 0-0 draw with Group A winners and hosts Indonesia at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta on Monday. The result marks Malaysia's second-worst performance in the tournament's five-edition history. Facing a fired-up Indonesia in front of a packed home crowd, the Young Tigers held their own in a cagey first half, which saw two yellow cards issued to each side. Ziad El Basheer Norhisham was booked in the sixth minute, followed by Aysar Hadi Shapri in the 36th. Indonesia's Muhammad Rayhan (31st) and Toni Firmansyah (39th) also went into the referee's book. The second half was livelier. Indonesia's Jens Raven had the best chance in the 58th minute, but Malaysia goalkeeper Zulhilmi Sharani pulled off a crucial save. Just a minute later, Aiman Yusuf Nabil nearly gave Malaysia the lead, but his effort was safely gathered by Indonesian custodian Cahya Supriadi. National youth coach Nafuzi Zain said: "We have failed to qualify for the semi-finals, and of course, we are disappointed. "However, I am proud of my boys' performance against Indonesia in front of their fans. "We managed pressure them, but it was not easy to create chances," he said. With the result against bottom side Brunei not counted, Malaysia ended their campaign with just one point. Indonesia (four points) and the Philippines (three) progressed to the semi-finals. Malaysia's worst-ever outing came in 2022 when they crashed out of a group that included only Laos after Myanmar and Indonesia withdrew. Malaysia lost both matches and failed to progress. The Young Tigers fared better in the inaugural 2005 edition, finishing fourth after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to Myanmar following a 1-1 draw in regulation time. A similar fate befell them in 2023, when they were beaten 4-3 on penalties by Thailand after another stalemate in regulation time.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Malaysia out to prove AI wrong
KUALA LUMPUR: Artificial intelligence (AI) has indicated Indonesia will beat Malaysia in an Under-23 Asean Championship football match in Jakarta, tomorrow. That is according to the Indonesian media. Malaysia will meet Indonesia in their final Group A match at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. The local media consulted AI models like ChatGPT, and most results showed that Indonesia will beat arch-rivals Malaysia. On paper, it points to an Indonesian victory. The hosts beat the Philippines 1-0 in their earlier Group A match whereas Malaysia lost 2-0 to the Philippines.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
FIFA ban until 2027? Indonesian pundit drops bombshell on Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Could Malaysia be slapped with a FIFA suspension until 2027? That's the explosive claim made by Indonesian football pundit Justinus Lhaksana, better known as Coach Justin, who has accused the FA of Malaysia (FAM) of bypassing international eligibility rules through the questionable naturalisation of South American players. In a recent episode of his podcast "Bukan Bincang Sepak Bola Biasa", Justin alleged that Malaysia are already suspended by FIFA for fielding players with "fabricated lineage" — though no such confirmation has come from world football's governing body or the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). "Malaysia are still allowed to play in the Under-23 Asean Championship because it's not recognised by FIFA. But they're suspended until 2027," he claimed on the HY Sport YouTube channel. According to Justin, five players who previously played in Brazil were brought into the national team under the guise of having Malaysian ancestry. "The federation (FAM) claimed they had Malaysian ancestors. If that's true, it should be easy to prove with documents," he said. "Otherwise, it looks like they're playing the system. And it seems they will be appealing." His comments appear to refer to Malaysia's decision to debut five foreign-born players — Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo and Rodrigo Holgado — in a FIFA match day clash against Vietnam on June 10, which ended in a thumping 4-0 win for Peter Cklamovski's side. What has made the accusation even more incendiary is Justin's comparison with Indonesia, claiming his country follows strict rules on lineage verification. "In Indonesia, we trace a player's ancestry two or three generations back, with birth certificates and everything," he said. "Look at our players — (Shayne) Pattynama, (Joey) Pelupessy, (Ragnar) Oratmangoen, (Stefano) Lilipaly, even Emil Audero — all clearly have Indonesian blood." The claims have sent social media into overdrive, coming at a time when Malaysia's aggressive recruitment of foreign talent has already raised eyebrows. However, AFC has already poured cold water on any talk of a brewing scandal. On July 4, AFC general-secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul dismissed speculation that Malaysia are under investigation for fielding ineligible players, confirming that no complaint had been received regarding the June 10 match. "Eligibility matters fall strictly under FIFA's jurisdiction," he said. FAM, through secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, also denied any wrongdoing, stressing that the association had complied fully with international guidelines and had not received any communication from FIFA or the AFC.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Nafuzi will pick first XI based on performance, not reputation
SUBANG JAYA: National coach Nafuzi Zain is leaving no room for favouritism as Malaysia gear up for the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-23 Championship in Indonesia from July 15-29. Despite having a handful of players with senior team experience in his 30-man squad, Nafuzi has made it clear – reputation means nothing without performance. 'There is a small group who've trained or played with Harimau Malaya, but every player will be assessed equally,' said Nafuzi. Nafuzi, who has coached Terengganu and Kedah in the local league, took over as the national Under-23 coach this year. 'I will select the best based on what they show in training and friendlies, nothing is guaranteed.' Menacing: Haqimi Azim Rosli (left) is one of the high profile strikers in the 30-man squad for the AFF Under-23 Championship. Among the more high-profile names in the squad are strikers Haqimi Azim Rosli, Fergus Tierney; defender Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili; midfielders Alif Ahmad, Mohamad Abu Khalil; winger Alif Izwan Yuslan; and creative playmaker Haykal Danish Haizon, all of whom have featured in senior team set-ups. Still, Nafuzi insists it's performance that counts. 'This is a fresh start for everyone. I have also brought in young talents and some familiar faces from past Under-23 squads. What matters is who can elevate our game not past appearances or name value.' The team are currently in centralised camp and will play three friendly matches against Police (July 5), Melaka (July 8), and Negri Sembilan (July 11) before departing for Jakarta on July 12. While the tournament is yet to begin, the hype has already kicked off, particularly from Indonesia's vocal fanbase and media. Nafuzi, however, is keeping his squad laser-focused on what matters most, football. 'We have seen the provocations, but we won't be drawn into that. Our focus is on ourselves. I expect a great game, a great atmosphere, especially when we face Indonesia, but we'll do our talking on the pitch.' His message to the players is simple – stay grounded and take it one game at a time. 'We want to reach the final, of course. But for now, the focus is our opening match against the Philippines. Start strong, build momentum, that's our goal.' With all 30 players having reported for camp, Nafuzi is using this critical preparation window not just to drill his tactical philosophy, but also to understand his squad's chemistry. 'This is the first time this group is assembling for a tournament, so this camp is important. They need to adapt to our style, and I need to observe how they respond, on and off the field,' he said. Malaysia's Group A campaign begins against the Philippines on July 15, followed by matches against Brunei (July 18) and hosts Indonesia (July 21) at the iconic Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, where passion, pressure, and pride will collide.
