logo
Cklamovski credits unique training camp for Malaysia's 4-0 win

Cklamovski credits unique training camp for Malaysia's 4-0 win

The Sun11-06-2025
National football team head coach Peter Cklamovski has described the recent training camp ahead of their 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Vietnam as 'a unique one', highlighting its importance in fostering the squad's 'team mentality' and cohesion.
Speaking after Harimau Malaya's commendable performance in their second Group F match, Cklamovski acknowledged the unconventional nature of the camp, especially since many players had not played competitive football since the Malaysian Super League was off-season.
'Well, it was a bit of a puzzle, this camp was a unique camp. The majority of the players were off-season from the Malaysian Super League. Faced tough opponents against Cape Verde, which you know, again was another good team performance.
'...and then that continued on to the final phase where we get some new players in, they committed to the team mentality we're building, the training mentality we're building, you saw the quality that we're growing as a team,' he said at a post-match press conference at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium last night.
Speaking about the squad setup, Cklamovski emphasised the necessity of depth and versatility rather than depending entirely on a set starting lineup.
'We make subs and we want to take our game to another level and make impacts off the bench. But you know, we don't rely on the best 11. We're an A-Team and that's the mentality we're growing, and it's growing the right way. The mentality in the team's strong and we'll continue to build our mentality for team performances,' he said.
Last night, Malaysia ended an eleven-year winless streak against Vietnam with a 4-0 victory, courtesy of goals from Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Corbin Ong, and Dion Cools.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Sports minister says Sukma 2026 to feature e-sports, chess, cricket, and kabaddi
Sports minister says Sukma 2026 to feature e-sports, chess, cricket, and kabaddi

Malay Mail

time13 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

Sports minister says Sukma 2026 to feature e-sports, chess, cricket, and kabaddi

SHAH ALAM, Aug 5 — The 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Selangor will feature the new sports of e-sports, chess, cricket and kabaddi, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said. She shared that the four sports were approved at the SUKMA Supreme Council meeting that she chaired today, adding that boxing and softball were also selected as mandatory sports for SUKMA effective from the 2026 edition. 'This brings the number of mandatory sports to 30. With the four additional sports approved for SUKMA 2026, 34 sports will be contested,' she said at a media conference after chairing the meeting here today, as she noted that the decision was final and no additional appeals would be entertained. This would ensure that the organiser had sufficient time to prepare for the Games, scheduled for Aug 15 to 24, 2026 in Selangor, she added. The meeting today also approved the official participation of the Brunei Darussalam contingent in SUKMA 2026, but the number of sports will be determined by a special technical committee soon, while the State Youth and Sports Exco meeting, which was also held today, agreed that state participation for the Para SUKMA would be managed by state sports councils from 2026, replacing the state youth and sports department to ensure preparation of para athletes was more strategic and focused. Yeoh also shared that they would continue developing sports for women following the lack of female athletes and technical officials in SUKMA 2024 in Sarawak, with today's meeting agreeing that for every open event, participation of athletes of different genders were compulsory. 'For sports events contested at the Olympic Games, they will be held and not dropped according to previous SUKMA regulations even if the number of women athletes did not meet the minimum requirement of six states. 'This is a very important departure to encourage women sports continue to provide opportunities to compete, even with the lack of investment and funds from all states,' Yeoh said. Also, each state contingent has been asked to appoint a woman head of contingent or deputy head and to have a 20 per cent quota of female support officials for secretariat and medical duties beginning from SUKMA 2026. 'Selangor SUKMA will have at least 30 per cent female volunteers and 20 per cent female tournament technical officials. I feel this is a very inclusive Games and many will wait to see how this SUKMA is different from the ones before,' she added. — Bernama

FOMO fuels pickleball craze as Malaysians seek fun path to fitness
FOMO fuels pickleball craze as Malaysians seek fun path to fitness

Malay Mail

timea day ago

  • Malay Mail

FOMO fuels pickleball craze as Malaysians seek fun path to fitness

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — If you're an avid social media user, chances are you've come across videos of friends or celebrities playing a unique sport that combines elements of ping pong, badminton, and tennis — known as pickleball. This activity has been gaining popularity, even among those who initially had little interest in sports but eventually got hooked due to the psychological phenomenon known as the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). According to Norezzati Md Hanafiah, a psychologist at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), FOMO — often linked to social pressure or unhealthy lifestyle habits — can actually be used positively, including to encourage a more active lifestyle. She explained that from a psychological perspective, this drive is closely tied to the human instinct to be accepted within a social group, which is essential for emotional well-being. In the context of pickleball or other light sports, FOMO can turn into a positive motivator. 'One might start as a spectator, then develop an interest in trying it out, which can become a turning point toward adopting a healthier lifestyle. If handled properly, FOMO can spark healthy habits that spread widely within a community,' she said. Beyond physical benefits, pickleball also contributes to mental health through its relaxed and fun social aspects — enhancing mood, providing ongoing motivation, and offering social therapy for those dealing with work stress or burnout. Players looking at pickleball equipments. — Bernama pic According to Norezzati, the approach to health promotion is evolving, with a greater focus on the fun-first concept, as seen in pickleball. This makes physical activity enjoyable and more effective than approaches that emphasise beauty or weight loss. 'When an activity is seen as fun rather than a burden, people are more likely to stick with it. This makes a healthy lifestyle something to enjoy rather than something to be forced into,' she said, adding that social media plays a major role in spreading the trend and creating a wave of normalisation that encourages more people to try it without feeling embarrassed or self-conscious. Pickleball is also the sport of choice for national hockey legend Datuk Mirnawan Nawawi, 53, who was drawn to the game's unique, low-impact nature, making it suitable for all age groups. 'I find pickleball to be perfect for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Previously, I only did brisk walking and went to the gym for workouts,' said Mirnawan, who has been actively playing since mid-last year. As the owner of Pickleball Playground in Shah Alam, he also encourages participation among youth under the age of 18, seeing their potential as future athletes who could elevate the sport to greater heights. Mirnawan also described pickleball as a wallet-friendly and accessible sport, noting that with court rental fees ranging from RM50 to RM70 per hour — usually split among several players — and minimal equipment requirements, the sport is suitable for people from all walks of life. 'In residential areas, for instance, the community or management could make use of and modify existing badminton or basketball courts slightly, so residents can play for free and enjoy a variety of recreational sports,' he said. — Bernama

Machuca thanks his grandma for Malaysia shirt
Machuca thanks his grandma for Malaysia shirt

New Straits Times

time2 days ago

  • New Straits Times

Machuca thanks his grandma for Malaysia shirt

KUALA LUMPUR: His footie-loving granny worked hard to get him to play for a national team in the other side of the world. The Argentine-born Imanol Machuca attributed his move to Harimau Malaya to his Malaysian grandmother. In an interview with Spanish media outlet, Sabado Velez recently, the 25-year-old winger said his Malaysia debut was a "unique experience", one made possible by his grandmother. Machuca played a key role as Malaysia thrashed Asean powerhouse Vietnam 4-0 in an Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10. In retrospect, Machuca thanked his grandmother for making his Malaysia dream a reality. "I got a phone call from my grandmother. She had been working on this (joining Malaysia) for a while. I had been talking about it for some time, but never managed to make it happen. Thank God, this year I was finally able to play. It was incredible." Speaking ahead of the Copa Libertadores round of 16, Machuca, who plays for Velez Sarsfield FC in Argentina, also talked about his Malaysian adventure. "There's a lot of passion in Malaysia. When the announcement (about Machuca playing for Malaysia) was made, the post got 15,000 likes and so many comments with the Malaysian flag. I want to send a big hug to all Malaysians," he said. Machuca said he was charmed in his first visit to Malaysia. "It's a beautiful country. Economically stable, the cities are very nice, although the weather is quite humid and hot. "People are friendly. They treated me well, and the culture is impressive. "I have been in contact with the coach (Peter Cklamovski). I hope they will call me again. I had a great experience in the Asian Cup qualifiers. We did well and I hope we can win our next two games (against Laos on Oct 9 and 14)."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store