Latest news with #2027AsianCupQualifiers
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Cklamovski silent on heritage picks for Cape Verde clash
NATIONAL head coach Peter Cklamovski has declined to comment on speculation linking three new heritage players with the Harimau Malaya. Cklamovski said some of the names mentioned in media reports were unfamiliar to him. The Australian said his squad's focus is firmly on tomorrow's behind closed doors friendly against Cape Verde at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw in their Tier 1 international match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras last Thursday. 'There's a lot of names out there in the media that I haven't even seen before. So there's a lot of speculation. I respect that but at the moment, you (media) know more than me. 'We prepare ourselves for a tough game tomorrow and that'll move us forward into the final phase (of training camp),' the 46-year-old coach told reporters when met during the national team's training session, here today. Local media today reported that three new heritage players are on their way to Malaysia ahead of tomorrow night's match against Cape Verde. The three players are America de Cali striker Rodrigo Holgado; Azerbaijani Sabah FC defender Jon Irazabal and Olympiacos forward Jefte Betancor who is currently on loan with Panserraikos. Meanwhile, Cklamovski said his team will play at the highest possible intensity when they face world number 72 ranked Cape Verde. 'Because we want to get better physically and we want to play at a higher tempo but in respect, we're playing a powerful nation, a country that wants to go to a World Cup. They're topping their group (qualifier) and it's a massive challenge,' he said. In the meantime, Cklamovski described the National Stadium as a 'special place' for both training and competition ahead of his first game at the Harimau Malaya's home ground. The friendlies against Cape Verde are part of Malaysia's preparations for the crucial game against Vietnam in their second Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the National Stadium on June 10. Vietnam and Malaysia jointly top the group with three points each after winning their opening matches.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Cklamovski tight-lipped on new heritage players ahead of Cape Verde friendly
NATIONAL head coach Peter Cklamovski has declined to comment on speculation linking three new heritage players with the Harimau Malaya. Cklamovski said some of the names mentioned in media reports were unfamiliar to him. The Australian said his squad's focus is firmly on tomorrow's behind closed doors friendly against Cape Verde at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw in their Tier 1 international match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras last Thursday. 'There's a lot of names out there in the media that I haven't even seen before. So there's a lot of speculation. I respect that but at the moment, you (media) know more than me. 'We prepare ourselves for a tough game tomorrow and that'll move us forward into the final phase (of training camp),' the 46-year-old coach told reporters when met during the national team's training session, here today. Local media today reported that three new heritage players are on their way to Malaysia ahead of tomorrow night's match against Cape Verde. The three players are America de Cali striker Rodrigo Holgado; Azerbaijani Sabah FC defender Jon Irazabal and Olympiacos forward Jefte Betancor who is currently on loan with Panserraikos. Meanwhile, Cklamovski said his team will play at the highest possible intensity when they face world number 72 ranked Cape Verde. 'Because we want to get better physically and we want to play at a higher tempo but in respect, we're playing a powerful nation, a country that wants to go to a World Cup. They're topping their group (qualifier) and it's a massive challenge,' he said. In the meantime, Cklamovski described the National Stadium as a 'special place' for both training and competition ahead of his first game at the Harimau Malaya's home ground. The friendlies against Cape Verde are part of Malaysia's preparations for the crucial game against Vietnam in their second Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the National Stadium on June 10. Vietnam and Malaysia jointly top the group with three points each after winning their opening matches.
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Harimau Malaya show stripes to hold better ranked Cape Verde
COURAGEOUS Malaysia were in a class of their own when they drew 1-1 against Cape Verde, ranked 72nd in the world, in a Tier 1 international football friendly at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras here on Thursday (May 29). Substitute striker Paulo Josue scored an equaliser with about 10 minutes remaining to save the honour of the Harimau Malaya squad in front of their own fans after defender Sidny Lopes Cabral had put Cape Verde ahead early in the first half. In the first clash between the two teams on the competitive stage, coach Cklamovski signalled the importance of local players when he fielded seven homegrown footballers in the starting XI while the latest naturalised player Gabriel Palmero was given the chance to make his debut for Malaysia. Malaysia, ranked 131st in the world gave an early warning to the visitors when Palmero's shot from outside the penalty area hit the post in the seventh minute, but Cape Verde were first in front through Cabral who cleverly beat Daniel Ting and fired a powerful shot from close range a minute later. Cape Verde (officially the Republic of Cabo Verde) then continued to dominate the game and launched a wave of attacks through a series of powerful shots that forced the national defence led by captain Matthew Davies and goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed to work extra hard to save the situation. On resumption, Malaysia had a golden opportunity to equalise but Faisal's powerful shot in the 61st minute was cleared by goalkeeper Josimar Dias before Muhammad Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili arrived to pounce the ball on the goal line. Arif Aiman also missed an opportunity to score when his attempt in a one-on-one situation hit Dias' foot in the 69th minute. However, Harimau Malaya could finally heave a sigh of relief when Josue equalised in the 79th minute after he calmly finished off a pass from Quentin Cheng. The heroic Josue then had the best chance to score the national team's winning goal, but his close-range shot hit the alert Dias' foot in the 86th minute, thus ensuring the 1-1 result remained until the final whistle. Malaysia will once again face Cape Verde in a friendly match behind closed doors at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 3. The two friendly matches against Cape Verde are in preparation for Malaysia to face Vietnam in the second Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on June 10. Vietnam and Malaysia now share the top two spots in the group with three points respectively after having played a match each.
