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New Straits Times
01-08-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Josue admits he was surprised by Malaysia's withdrawal
KUALA LUMPUR: National player Paulo Josue has admitted he was surprised by Malaysia's withdrawal from the Central Asian Football Association (Cafa) Nations Cup. The 36-year-old Brazil-born Josue felt the Nations Cup would have provided valuable experience for Malaysia's players as the tournament features strong teams like Iran and Uzbekistan. KL City midfielder Josue has earned 26 caps and scored nine goals since his Malaysia debut in March 2023. However, he believes that the replacement matches for Malaysia following the Nations Cup withdrawal, are still worthwhile. Harimau Malaya will play friendlies against Palestine and Singapore in September in Kuala Lumpur. "It's Fifa days, so we need to play with someone. I think Singapore has a strong team. Palestine is also a top country. It's interesting for us to play them and to keep testing ourselves," said Josue.
The Hindu
30-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
India to play in CAFA Nations Cup — Full schedule; Iran, Tajikistan among opponents
India will play in the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup, replacing Malaysia, which withdrew from the tournament citing logistical challenges. 'Malaysia's participation had been confirmed well in advance, with full awareness of the tournament dates (29.08. - 08.09.2025) and schedule, and those dates have never been changed from the beginning,' the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) said in a statement. 'Unfortunately, this late withdrawal has caused certain disruptions to the ongoing organisational processes, particularly given the advanced stage of planning and preparations.' As a result, the Blue Tigers have replaced Harimau Malaya, and the tournament will mark their first under a new coach, following Manolo Marquez's departure earlier this month by mutual consent. At the Nations Cup, India will be drawn alongside Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. The team will have a chance to earn significant ranking points if it can pull off upsets against Iran — the defending champion — and Tajikistan, a 2023 Asian Cup quarterfinalist. The top two teams from each group will progress to the play-off stage, with two matches scheduled for September 8. The third-place match will be contested by the two group runners-up in Dushanbe, while the final, between the group winners, will take place in Tashkent. CAFA Nations Cup 2025 tentative schedule: India vs Tajikistan — August 29 India vs Iran — September 1 India vs Afghanistan — September 4 Indian football has been adrift since its group-stage exit at the 2024 Asian Cup — a run that saw the team change head coaches from Igor Stimac to Manolo Marquez, yet go winless in competitive matches for 16 months. Now ranked 133rd, its lowest position in nearly a decade, the men's team is hoping for a course correction under a new coach, expected to be appointed on August 1 from a shortlist that includes Khalid Jamil, Stephen Constantine, and Stefan Tarkovic.
New Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Cheaper for Harimau Malaya to go to Singapore than Dushanbe?
KUALA LUMPUR: For years, Harimau Malaya lamented that no top teams want to play them because of their "low" standard. Now ironically, Malaysia withdrew from the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup after accepting a first ever invitation. And now, there is speculation that Malaysia may play Singapore instead during the September Fifa window. Malaysia still want to play their neighbours from across the Causeway — again, again and again? Singapore as replacement for higher ranked teams like Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran, who are going to the 2026 World Cup? Football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail finds this purported U-turn from Central Asia to Southeast Asia baffling. "They don't want to play in a good tournament. What's the strategy? There must be something that has led to this," said Jamal. It was reported that the national team will instead hold a training camp in Kuala Lumpur from Sept 1–9, while a friendly with Singapore was being considered. Jamal said the national team could be trying to save costs as going to Singapore instead of Dushanbe (for the Nations Cup) is cheaper. "Is it because of financial constraints? When going there (Nations Cup), you have to pay this and that, flights are expensive, but here (Singapore) is not that expensive. "They should come out with a press conference to explain and not just keep quiet," he added. Jamal also found it hard to accept the reasons for Malaysia's withdrawal — travel logistics, transit fatigue and the unavailability of overseas-based players. "These are not good excuses, and if there are transits, then go earlier and you can recover. Not a plausible excuse. "Even when they talk about overseas-based players who aren't available, do they think that only players like Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces and Rodrigo Holgado are good and the rest aren't? I think netizens will think the same way, too," said Jamal.
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Harimau's overreliance on heritage players exposes structural flaws'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's withdrawal from the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup has exposed two deep-rooted problems within the national team setup — poor internal structure and overdependence on heritage or naturalised players. This was stated by football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir following Malaysia's eyebrow-raising pullout from the Nations Cup. Jamal expressed his concern over the way Harimau Malaya is being managed. He described the current structure as uncoordinated and overly reliant on individuals instead of a unified system. There has been backlash from fans after head coach Peter Cklamovski — , instead of the national team CEO, Rob Friend or deputy CEO Stanley Bernard — announced Malaysia's withdrawal. "Harimau Malaya are 'so-called' privatised and managed by certain individuals. So if the structure is haywire, it's not about FAM, but within Harimau Malaya itself," he said. "Why doesn't the CEO speak? Why always the head coach? Perhaps something is going on in management that we don't understand." Jamal said a proper national team setup should not be thrown into disarray just because a few key players (Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces and Gabriel Palmero) were unavailable. "Why must we focus on just three or unavailable four players? Whether the tournament is inside or outside the FIFA calendar shouldn't be the issue. Unless we don't have a team at all, this shouldn't be a problem," he said. Jamal feels that Malaysia's dependency on naturalised players is making the team fragile and unsustainable in the long run. "We can't just rely on naturalised or heritage players all the time, they have their commitments too," he said. "We need to believe in the other players. When certain players can't come, we collapse. It shows a lack of trust in the rest of the squad." He viewed the Nations Cup as an ideal platform to build the Malaysia squad, especially against quality opponents like Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. "We need to be brave. Don't be scared to lose. This is the time to see our strengths and test ourselves competitively." Jamal questioned the decision-making on the withdrawal and the handling of the affair. "When the invitation came, you need to sit down and plan properly, whether you can play or not, whether your players can be released or not," he said. "Only when that's confirmed, then send the letter of confirmation to CAFA. Don't confirm first, then only ask questions later. That's unorganised. It opens the door for criticism that always goes unanswered."
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Harimau Malaya's 'haywire' management
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's withdrawal from the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup has exposed two deep-rooted problems within the national team setup — poor internal structure and overdependence on heritage or naturalised players. This was stated by football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir following Malaysia's eyebrow-raising pullout from the Nations Cup. Jamal expressed his concern over the way Harimau Malaya is being managed. He described the current structure as uncoordinated and overly reliant on individuals instead of a unified system. There has been backlash from fans after head coach Peter Cklamovski — instead of the national team CEO, Rob. Friend or deputy CEO Stanley Bernard — announced Malaysia's withdrawal. "Harimau Malaya are 'so-called' privatised and managed by certain individuals. So if the structure is haywire, it's not about FAM, but within Harimau Malaya itself," he said. "Why doesn't the CEO speak? Why always the head coach? Perhaps something is going on in management that we don't understand." Jamal said a proper national team setup should not be thrown into disarray just because a few key players (Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca, Facundo Garces and Gabriel Palmero) were unavailable. "Why must we focus on just three or four unavailable players? "Whether the tournament is inside or outside the FIFA calendar shouldn't be the issue. "Unless we don't have a team at all, this shouldn't be a problem," he said. Jamal feels that Malaysia's dependency on naturalised players is making the team fragile and unsustainable in the long run. "We can't just rely on naturalised or heritage players all the time, they have their commitments too," he said. "We need to believe in the other players. When certain players can't come, we collapse. "It shows a lack of trust in the rest of the squad." He viewed the Nations Cup as an ideal platform to build the Malaysia squad, especially against quality opponents like Iran, Tajikistan and Afghanistan, and prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. "We need to be brave. Don't be scared to lose. This is the time to see our strengths and test ourselves competitively." Jamal questioned the decision-making on the withdrawal and the handling of the affair. "When the invitation came, you need to sit down and plan properly, whether you can play or not, whether your players can be released or not," he said. "Only when that's confirmed, then send the letter of confirmation to CAFA.
