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New Straits Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
M-League to take a break to help Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: The M-League will take a break to enable Malaysia to send their strongest national team to the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup from Aug 26-Sept 9 in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The Malaysian Football League (MFL) said that the M-League, scheduled to start on Aug 8, will take a short break during the CAFA Cup, thus allowing the national team to call up the best available players for the tournament. MFL acting chief executive officer Shazli Shaik said: "Since the CAFA Cup takes place just before the Fifa window, we are giving way to the national team. "We know that assembling the national team will involve players from major clubs such as Johor Darul Ta'zim, Selangor and possibly Sabah and KL City. "Priority will be given to the national team, and during that period, there will be no league matches," he said. The CAFA Nations Cup will feature eight teams, including 2026 World Cup qualifiers Iran (world No. 18) and Uzbekistan (No. 57). The other expected participants are Oman (No. 77), Kyrgyzstan (No. 103), Tajikistan (No. 104), Turkmenistan (No. 142), and Afghanistan (No. 160). Shazli stressed that the national team's agenda would not disrupt the M-League, as no fixtures will be postponed to accommodate Harimau Malaya. "There's no issue of postponement as the league calendar is yet to be released. We've taken the national team's request into consideration to ensure it doesn't interfere with league proceedings. "In the past, such requests were made while the league was already ongoing. We're now in constant communication with the national team."
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
MFL to pause M-League for Harimau Malaya's sake
KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya are expected to assemble a full-strength squad, comprising the best players from the M-League clubs, for the CAFA Nations Cup on Aug 26-Sept 9. Although the M-League is scheduled to begin on Aug 8, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) has confirmed the league will pause temporarily to allow the national team to field their strongest side for the Central Asian tournament. MFL acting chief executive officer Shazli Shaik said supporting the national team remains a key priority for the league organisers. "As part of managing the league, our priority is also to support the national team," said Shazli. "The CAFA Cup will begin a few days before the FIFA international window opens. "When the national players are assembled, it usually involves key clubs like Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT), Selangor, Sabah and KL City. "During that period, the M-League will take a short break." The CAFA Nations Cup has attracted top teams, including world No. 18 Iran and world No. 57 Uzbekistan, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Also expected to feature are Oman (world No. 77), Kyrgyzstan (No. 103), Tajikistan (No. 104), Turkmenistan (No. 142) and Afghanistan (No. 160). Shazli also assured that the national team's commitments will not disrupt the league calendar, as fixtures will be adjusted in advance to avoid postponements. "There won't be any match delays because the league schedule hasn't been finalised yet," he said. "We've taken the national team's plans into consideration early, so it won't interfere with the league's flow. "In the past, such requests were made after the league had already started. This time, we're in constant communication with the national team and have planned accordingly. "We're also working closely with all clubs to ensure they understand and support this approach," he added.
New Straits Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Harimau Malaya to face World Cup-bound Iran, Uzbekistan in CAFA Cup
KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya will take on Iran and Uzbekistan, who have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, in the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup — their first-ever appearance in the prestigious tournament. The eight-nation event will be staged in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan from Aug 26-Sept 9, pitting Malaysia against some of Asia's top teams. Malaysia's participation is being hailed as a sign of growing regional recognition and a major step up for the national team. The tournament offers coach Peter Cklamovski's men a rare opportunity to test themselves against elite opponents beyond the traditional Southeast Asian sphere, and two teams who will be playing in the 2026 World Cup. "We are proud to be participating in the CAFA Cup," said Cklamovski. "We will face tough challenges away from home and compete in a demanding environment against strong opponents. "These experiences will test us in many ways, both on and off the field, and will be vital for the continued development of our national team. "This tournament is another important opportunity for Harimau Malaya to make the nation proud, to excite our fans, and to continue building the unity that Malaysian football aspires to." As reported by Timesport last week, Malaysia were among the teams invited to the CAFA Cup. Afghanistan, Oman, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan are also expected to feature, although official confirmation of all participants is still pending. Malaysia's inclusion in a tournament usually limited to Central Asian nations is seen as the fruit of strong diplomatic and football ties, and a reflection of the growing ambition under Cklamovski to lift the team's international profile. The national team currently lead their group in the Asian Cup qualifiers after convincing wins over Nepal (2-0) and Vietnam (4-0). Iran and Uzbekistan have already booked their places in the 2026 World Cup, along with Japan, South Korea, Australia and Jordan.
