2030 World Cup dream starts with the U-23s, says Cheng Hoe
PETALING JAYA: National team technical director Tan Cheng Hoe believes the decision to scrap the MFL Cup is a blow to the future of Malaysian football, particularly in the development of young talent.
Cheng Hoe, who now oversees both Harimau Malaya and the national youth setup alongside Under-23 coach Nafuzi Zain, said the discontinued competition had provided a vital platform for emerging players to shine.
"It's a waste that the MFL Cup, which focused on Under-23 players, has been scrapped," said Cheng Hoe at Wisma FAM on Thursday.
"But what the FA of Malaysia (FAM) is doing now with competitions like the A1 Semi-Pro League under the Amateur Football League can still give players opportunities to compete and impress.
"We hope to unearth more talent this way."
The former Harimau Malaya coach, who led Malaysia to the 2018 AFF Cup final, is now tasked with shaping the technical direction of both the senior and youth national teams.
His focus is on long-term growth and sustainability.
"Our target is the 2027 Asian Cup, and Peter Cklamovski (Harimau Malaya coach) has already spoken about a long-term vision of qualifying for the 2030 World Cup," he said.
"It's about using all my experience to help both the senior side and the Under-23s. That age group is crucial — they're the future of the national team."
Cheng Hoe admitted the current Under-23 crop lacks standout names but urged the players to remain committed.
"We don't have many Under-23 players with big reputations right now, but we believe more will rise in this football revolution.
"Every youth player must believe they can one day wear the national jersey. Don't dwell on negativity about Malaysian football. Be positive, work hard, fight for your place in the first eleven, and trust the process — there are no shortcuts."
He also stressed that the right mindset, coaching structure and belief in the system are essential if Malaysia are to build a more competitive national side in the coming years.
"This is a challenging project, but I'm excited. With support from all parties, I'm confident Harimau Malaya can go even further than before," Cheng Hoe added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Brazil need to get the best out of Vinicius: Ancelotti
Brazil must help striker Vinicius Jr rediscover the form he has displayed at Real Madrid, new national team coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Wednesday. Ancelotti, who guided the Spanish giants to several titles alongside the Brazilian forward, including two Champions League triumphs and two LaLiga crowns, said that his unique ability to unsettle opposing defences made him a vital asset. "I don't know if he's been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid," Ancelotti told reporters ahead of Brazil's World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on Thursday — his first match in charge of the national team. "For us, he's a fundamental player. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best here," the manager added. Vinicius made his World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022 and has been a regular during their qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament. However, he has struggled for form with the national team, falling short of his usual standards at Real Madrid. Regarding his tactical approach, Ancelotti stated that he aims to field a compact, balanced team. "I don't want a team with a clear identity. We have to defend well, whether it's 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We have to defend together and use creativity with the ball," he said. "Individual quality is not enough today; you have to combine it with attitude, drive and commitment." He didn't reveal his starting line-up for his debut as coach, but he did have words of praise for 18-year-old Estevao, who is leaving Palmeiras for Chelsea and has been tipped for a bright future with the national team. "He's got a special talent... he's got character, he's a good person, he's humble, and he seems fine to me, but with a young player we have to be patient and careful. He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team," the coach said. Brazil are fourth in the standings for the South American World Cup qualifiers, while their opponents Ecuador are second, behind world champions Argentina. The top six qualify directly for the World Cup. They will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo next week and could secure an early spot at next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. --REUTERS
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Newell's Criticized for Suspending Kids Over Rival Photo
AN Argentine football club has sparked outrage by suspending six nine-year-olds from training and stripping them of scholarships after they posed for a photograph with a professional player from a rival team. The kids, enrolled in the youth academy of Newell's Old Boys club, had posed with Ignacio Malcorra of Rosario Central when he came to watch his son play in a tournament in March. The boys had posed in their Newell's jerseys, which some interpreted as an act of disloyalty to star Lionel Messi's boyhood team. The rivalry between the two first division clubs from the populous city of Rosario is one of the fiercest in football-crazy Argentina, and has at times degenerated into fan violence. Newell's denied the children were being punished, saying in a statement the measure was taken to protect them against 'potential harassment.' But Lionel Scaloni, a World Cup-winning Argentine coach and former Newell's player, criticized the move. 'We should value that these kids wanted to take a picture with a first-division player,' he said at a press conference Wednesday. 'If we want to eradicate violence, we must do the exact opposite: tell them to take the picture and, if their dream is to one day play in the first division, it doesn't matter with' which team, he said. Newell's president Ignacio Astore said some parents had asked for their children not to play after receiving threats from other parents. Carlos Panciroli, coordinator of Newell's football academy, who had earlier defended the boys' suspension out of 'respect' of the Newell's jersey, later conceded to La Capital newspaper that 'maybe we made a mistake.'
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
Argentine club suspends footballers, 9, over photo with idol from rival team
AN Argentine football club has sparked outrage by suspending six nine-year-olds from training and stripping them of scholarships after they posed for a photograph with a professional player from a rival team. The kids, enrolled in the youth academy of Newell's Old Boys club, had posed with Ignacio Malcorra of Rosario Central when he came to watch his son play in a tournament in March. The boys had posed in their Newell's jerseys, which some interpreted as an act of disloyalty to star Lionel Messi's boyhood team. The rivalry between the two first division clubs from the populous city of Rosario is one of the fiercest in football-crazy Argentina, and has at times degenerated into fan violence. Newell's denied the children were being punished, saying in a statement the measure was taken to protect them against 'potential harassment.' But Lionel Scaloni, a World Cup-winning Argentine coach and former Newell's player, criticized the move. 'We should value that these kids wanted to take a picture with a first-division player,' he said at a press conference Wednesday. 'If we want to eradicate violence, we must do the exact opposite: tell them to take the picture and, if their dream is to one day play in the first division, it doesn't matter with' which team, he said. Newell's president Ignacio Astore said some parents had asked for their children not to play after receiving threats from other parents. Carlos Panciroli, coordinator of Newell's football academy, who had earlier defended the boys' suspension out of 'respect' of the Newell's jersey, later conceded to La Capital newspaper that 'maybe we made a mistake.'
