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New Straits Times
13-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Blue Sharks can sharpen up Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia, it is said, have found it hard to find "strong footballing nations" for international friendlies due to the national team's unimpressive world ranking. So, Cape Verde coming to Kuala Lumpur to play Malaysia is something to be excited about. After all, the West African side are ranked world No. 72, much higher than Malaysia's world No. 131. It's indeed a feather in FAM's cap to bring in Cape Verde, which will enable Malaysia's national players to have a rare learning-and-playing opportunity. An island nation with a population of only 596,000, Cape Verde has produced stars like Logan Costa (playing for La Liga side Villarreal), Dailon Livramento (Serie A club Verona) and Bryan Teixeira (Bundesliga's Magdeburg). Our coaches often say that Harimau Malaya need to play against higher-ranked teams to be better. But top teams like Japan, South Korea, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, etc, won't be interested in playing friendlies against Malaysia because of our world ranking. So, for a change, Malaysia, who havebeen reduced to playing lowly sides like Timor Leste and Nepal in recent years, will get to play a top team soon. And the deal gets even better, two for the price of one, so to speak. Cape Verde have agreed to play Malaysia two times. Malaysia are scheduled to play Cape Verde in an international friendly at KLFA Stadium on May 29 and a closed-door test match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 3. Former national footballer and pundit Hasnizam Uzir said: "We've had friendlies before, but nothing like this. Previously, we didn't face as much of a challenge when we played Nepal. "Now, Cape Verde will test our players in ways we haven't seen before." Uzir said the two matches against Cape Verde offer a rare opportunity for the national coaches to gauge Malaysia's readiness ahead of their crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10. "This is the kind of match that will push Malaysia's players to their limits." He said Cape Verde's physicality and high intensity will toughen up Malaysia against Southeast Asia powerhouse Vietnam. Meanwhile football critic Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli said: "Cape Verde agreed to play us, which is an honour." He said the matches against Cape Verde offer a rare and valuable opportunity for Malaysia to play a world-class team. "Cape Verde were ranked 27th in the world in 2014, an exciting feat. This is the kind of test we've always wanted, an opponent ranked under the world top 100. Even though they are No. 72 now, it's a rare name to face in friendlies," said Pekan. Cape Verde made waves at last year's Africa Cup of Nations. They stunned favourites Ghana 2-1 in the group stage and held South Africa to a goalless draw in the quarter-finals before exiting on penalties (2-1). Now, Malaysia hope the two warm-up matches against the Blue Sharks, as Cape Verde are known, will help them sharpen up against Vietnam.
New Straits Times
09-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Harimau Malaya to face Cape Verde in historic friendly
KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya will take on Cape Verde for the first time in an international friendly at the KLFA Stadium in Cheras on May 29. World No. 72 Cape Verde are expected to provide a stern test for 131st-ranked Malaysia ahead of their crunch Asian Cup Group F qualifier against Vietnam on June 10. The Blue Sharks, who reached the last 16 of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, boast a squad brimming with experience from top leagues across Europe and the United States. Among their key players are Logan Costa (Villarreal), Steven Moreira (Columbus Crew), Gilson Tavares (Akron Tolyatti), Ryan Mendes (Kocaelispor) and veteran goalkeeper Vozinha of GD Chaves. Rising star Dailon Livramento, currently on the books of Serie A side Hellas Verona, adds youthful spark to their lineup. Peter Cklamovski's men will lock horns with Cape Verde again in a closed-door training match in Bukit Jalil on June 3. In a statement, the FA of Malaysia (FAM) said both matches are crucial in preparing the national team for the must-win qualifier against Vietnam. "These games are designed to give the national team competitive minutes and strategic exposure ahead of the Vietnam match," said FAM. Malaysia kicked off their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 win over Nepal at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in March, while Vietnam hammered Laos 5-0 in their opener. Tickets for the Cape Verde and Vietnam matches go on sale from May 12 at Prices for the Cape Verde game are RM40 (open seating) and RM5 for children aged between five and 12. For the Vietnam clash, ticket prices are RM40 (open), RM60 (grandstand), RM70 (premium), and RM5 for children. All tickets will be sold exclusively online.
