Ubaidullah highlights valuable lessons learned from hiccup at AFF C'ship
PETALING JAYA: Whether it's two days or two weeks of preparation, Malaysia Under-23 football team captain and defender Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili believes that they must learn to adapt quickly if they are to progress on the world stage.
Following the Harimau Muda's early exit in the AFF Under-23 Championship, the midfielder did not hide his disappointment but insisted that valuable lessons were learned – particularly in terms of experience and on-field awareness.
'I'm disappointed. We didn't get to the next stage,' said Ubaidullah, who plays for Terengganu in the Super League.
'We have to move on and take this as a lesson. We have a bigger assignment coming.'
That next challenge is the AFC Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September, where Malaysia will face Thailand, Lebanon and Mongolia – a group Ubaidullah acknowledges as tough but not impossible to navigate.
'We have to qualify. It is important. The last AFC tournament, we qualified on merit. If we have good preparation and a solid plan, nothing is impossible.'
The 22-year-old, who wore the armband during the AFF campaign, pointed to communication breakdowns and lack of in-game decision-making as critical areas that need improvement before the qualifiers.
'We have the chemistry, but on the field, our communication is less. This is for myself as well. In some situations, we didn't know what to do,' he admitted.
'We may look emotional because of the shouting at each other, but adrenaline is high. These moments will help us to mature. Next tournament, the boys will know what to do. We will move forward.'
Ubaidullah believes professionalism starts with personal responsibility, especially with many players juggling club duties during pre-season or competitive league campaigns.
'Off or on season is not an issue. As professionals, we have to be prepared. We have to do it on our own and not expect everything from others.'
He was also quick to defend the team's preparation time, stressing that the two weeks they had was enough, if used wisely.
'Every game, there was improvement. But in the national team, you need to adapt quickly and understand the demands. We had two weeks to prepare, which is ample enough. We have to be better.'
Looking ahead, Ubaidullah hopes the upcoming centralised training camp will serve as a platform for the squad to regroup, sharpen their tactical awareness, and strengthen their unity.
'The biggest lesson I can take is experience. Our squad is still young and inexperienced, but this outing will mature us.
'I've learnt a lot and I know the team has too. I believe we will do better in the upcoming competition.'
With Malaysia set to face stern tests in September, the leadership and clear-eyed honesty of their captain could be just what they need to turn disappointment into qualification.
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