Malaysia hope for the real deal from Africa
KUALA LUMPUR: Are Cape Verde the real deal? Will the West Africans be coming to Kuala Lumpur with their national team?
If they do, Cape Verde, aka the Blue Sharks, are capable of tearing apart Harimau Malaya.
After all, they are ranked much higher than Malaysia — world No. 72 against world No. 131.
Malaysia will play Cape Verde in a Tier 1 international friendly at KLFA Stadium on May 29 and in a closed-door test match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 3.
While fans are excited over Cape Verde's visit, memories of Malaysian football's most embarrassing moment — the Zimbabwean hoax of 2009 — have come flooding back.
At that time, Harimau Malaya were duped into facing a club side, Monomotapa United, who posed as the Zimbabwe national side.
The African visitors donned national colours in Kuala Lumpur, with people posing as Zimbabwe coaching staff.
The FA of Malaysia (FAM) was not amused, and accused the Zimbabwe Football Association of deception and disrespect. Monomotapa lost 4-0 in the first match and 1-0 in the second to Malaysia.
National coach Datuk K. Rajagobal had then said that he was told it was the "real Zimbabwe squad".
From 2008 to 2009, Harimau Malaya played five matches against teams claiming to represent African nations, including Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Lesotho, but questions lingered over the authenticity of some of these line-ups.
Now, after 16 years, Malaysia are set to play another African nation, Cape Verde.
Inevitably, questions are being raised again — will it be the real Cape Verde?
Former Football Coaches Association of Malaysia vice-president Dr Zulakbal Abd Karim said such incidents had happened before, but he trusts FAM's current leadership.
"In the past, it could have happened, African teams coming here, claiming to be something. But I believe FAM has experts like Harimau Malaya CEO (Rob Friend) and they would know more than us.
"Secondly, the info and media reports show a team of high calibre, and when they come, we will know if it's the first or second team. We have professionals to do a background check," said Zulakbal.
Meanwhile, football observer Sayf Ismail said while it is important for Malaysia to play higher-ranked teams, he warned of the potential pitfalls.
"It's a good move to play teams better than us. But we also have to ensure they send a competitive team and not junior teams or highly experimental teams.
"But it's their prerogative to send those they feel can win, and they have their priorities to test out younger players against Malaysia.
"But we have to make sure that the negotiations and understanding between both the countries are mutually beneficial."
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