Another wake-up call for Malaysian football after Asean Under-23 flop

New Straits Times

22-07-2025

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.