Hamidin believes Harimau Malaya can break into world's top 100 within next two or three years
PETALING JAYA: The dream of seeing Harimau Malaya break into the world's top 100 is no longer a pipe dream and could be within reach in just two to three years.
Former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin is optimistic that the national team can reach that milestone, given their recent progress under the Harimau Malaya revolution driven by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail.
Malaysia are now ranked No. 125 in the latest FIFA rankings, a six-spot jump from their previous position at No. 131, their highest in 19 years since they last reached the same ranking in February 2006.
The improvement came after a convincing win over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign last month under new head coach Peter Cklamovski.
Hamidin believes the current set-up has the potential to take Malaysian football to greater heights, especially with strong backing from Tunku Mahkota Ismail.
"After such a long time, to see Malaysia ranked No. 125 is a great achievement. It shows what can happen when everyone works together to push the national team forward,' said Hamidin.
'When I first took office, we were ranked 178 in the world. Slowly but surely, we climbed up the ladder and even reached No. 130 before the Asian Cup in Qatar.
'We must continue this momentum. Consistent progress requires consistent effort. If all parties work together and give their full support, I truly believe it's not impossible for us to break into the world's top 100 within the next two or three years.
'But the effort must be consistent, as other nations are also working hard to strengthen their teams. Long-term planning is crucial to ensure Harimau Malaya remain competitive on the international stage,' said Hamidin.
Still, he warned that other nations are also making strong strides to improve their rankings.
In South-East Asia, Thailand continue to lead the way at No. 102, followed by Vietnam at No. 113, Indonesia at No. 118, and Malaysia just behind.
'We all dream of achieving greater success than where we are now. That's why continuous effort is essential. With the initiatives introduced by Tunku Mahkota Ismail, I'm confident we're on the right track to keep moving forward.
'But we can't afford to be complacent. We must keep evolving and find better ways to improve the team's performance. Otherwise, we risk slipping backwards,' he said.
Hamidin was speaking after receiving the Sports Leadership Figure award at the 2024 Malaysian Sportswriters Association (SAM)-100PLUS Awards in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
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