Latest news with #WismaFAM
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
FAM president dismisses separation claims, says clubs and FAs remain united to boost Malaysian football
PETALING JAYA, May 31 — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has stressed that ties between state football associations (FAs) and football clubs (FCs) have never been severed, but instead continue to be strengthened through a more holistic approach to ensure healthier development of football at the state level. FAM president Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub said the perception that FAs and FCs operate separately is inaccurate, as most clubs are still owned by the respective FAs, and working relationships remain intact. 'It is sometimes just assumptions made on the ground due to current issues, especially with salary problems. People tend to think there's no working relationship between the FA and FC. 'But that's not true. In reality, most FCs are still under the ownership of FAs, so FAs remain responsible for the well-being of these clubs,' he said after a meeting with top leadership of FAs and FCs at Wisma FAM yesterday. On the engagement session, Joehari expressed confidence that FAM's new approach has been positively received by all stakeholders involved. 'Very good. It has always been positive. That's why, as president, my new approach will involve more frequent meetings between FAs and FCs. 'We ourselves will go down to every state to meet and have dialogues with all of them regularly,' he added. He also said that FAM and the Malaysia Football League (MFL) will continue to work closely and take a more aggressive approach to ensure that club management is carried out in a more structured and responsible manner. 'That's why we're having this meeting today, to ensure the involvement of both FAs and FCs. Together, they can combine efforts to make state football healthier. That is one of the key methods we will employ,' he said. In a separate development, Mohd Joehari praised the outstanding performance of national young talent Muhammad Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili, who impressed in Malaysia's friendly match against Cape Verde on Tuesday (May 29), proving that local players possess the quality to compete at the international level. 'Ubaidullah was named Man of the Match, which even he didn't expect, and neither did we. I believe the media is well aware of his development, which began during the national project squad when I was the team manager. It's truly a proud moment,' he said. In the match held at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras, Harimau Malaya displayed strong fighting spirit to hold Cape Verde, the world's 72nd-ranked team, to a 1-1 draw. Mohd Joehari also said that head coach Peter Cklamovski will soon make an announcement on the status of heritage player Rodrigo Holgado and whether he will be included in Malaysia's squad for the second Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Vietnam on June 10 in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
New Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
'Cape Verde friendly a risk outside FIFA window'
PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya coach Peter Cklamovski has admitted that playing Cape Verde on May 29 will be a major challenge — not only due to limited preparation time, but also because the match falls outside the Fifa international window, raising concerns over player welfare. This raises concerns, as any injuries sustained during the match would not be covered by the FIFA Club Protection Programme, which only compensates clubs for injuries occurring during official windows. The nearest sanctioned window runs from June 2-10. Malaysia's second match against world No. 72 Cape Verde — a closed-door test on June 3 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil — will fall within the window. "That's a tricky question," said Cklamovski at Wisma FAM on Thursday. "If we play on May 29, I'm not sure what the FIFA protocol says. We'll have to get the organisation (FA of Malaysia) to look into that. "But I know with Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim's support, vision and intent, all the players and staff are well looked after." Cklamovski also pointed out that playing a match just 11 days into a national team training camp is highly irregular, comparing it to a club being asked to play a key fixture less than two weeks into pre-season. "When do clubs play big matches 11 days into their pre-season? Very rare," he said. "This is a unique situation. The players have just had four weeks off. We've built a plan to get the best out of them — rest first, then come in full steam to take on tough opponents." The Australian tactician is also looking ahead, having confirmed the integration of former Everton midfielder Jose Baxter into the national set-up. Baxter replaces Mark Milligan in the senior team coaching unit but will also serve as a bridge to the national Under-23 squad. "He'll be with us for this camp — that's an appointment we've had in place for a while," said Cklamovski. "Baxter has been involved in the national coaching system, and now he'll assist coach Nafuzi Zain with the U-23s. "That appointment is key. He will support Nafuzi and drive our philosophy and DNA into the U-23s, which is vital for our future. "He contributes to the senior team and also helps inject that same DNA into the youth set-up." Cklamovski also addressed player mentality heading into the Cape Verde and Vietnam fixtures, especially after an extended off-season. "We're handling the physical side carefully, but the mental part is just as important," he said. "The win against Nepal gave us momentum, and we've got to keep building on that." Malaysia defeated Nepal 2-0 in their Asian Cup Group F qualifying opener on March 25 at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri. Next up is a massive test against regional rivals Vietnam in Bukit Jalil on June 10. Malaysia have not beaten Vietnam in over a decade — their last win was a 4-2 triumph in Hanoi during the 2014 AFF Cup semi-final second leg, giving them a 5-4 win on aggregate. They lost 4-3 on aggregate to Thailand in the final. "We've got three weeks to prepare for Vietnam," said Cklamovski.
New Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
2030 World Cup dream starts with the U-23s, says Cheng Hoe
PETALING JAYA: National team technical director Tan Cheng Hoe believes the decision to scrap the MFL Cup is a blow to the future of Malaysian football, particularly in the development of young talent. Cheng Hoe, who now oversees both Harimau Malaya and the national youth setup alongside Under-23 coach Nafuzi Zain, said the discontinued competition had provided a vital platform for emerging players to shine. "It's a waste that the MFL Cup, which focused on Under-23 players, has been scrapped," said Cheng Hoe at Wisma FAM on Thursday. "But what the FA of Malaysia (FAM) is doing now with competitions like the A1 Semi-Pro League under the Amateur Football League can still give players opportunities to compete and impress. "We hope to unearth more talent this way." The former Harimau Malaya coach, who led Malaysia to the 2018 AFF Cup final, is now tasked with shaping the technical direction of both the senior and youth national teams. His focus is on long-term growth and sustainability. "Our target is the 2027 Asian Cup, and Peter Cklamovski (Harimau Malaya coach) has already spoken about a long-term vision of qualifying for the 2030 World Cup," he said. "It's about using all my experience to help both the senior side and the Under-23s. That age group is crucial — they're the future of the national team." Cheng Hoe admitted the current Under-23 crop lacks standout names but urged the players to remain committed. "We don't have many Under-23 players with big reputations right now, but we believe more will rise in this football revolution. "Every youth player must believe they can one day wear the national jersey. Don't dwell on negativity about Malaysian football. Be positive, work hard, fight for your place in the first eleven, and trust the process — there are no shortcuts." He also stressed that the right mindset, coaching structure and belief in the system are essential if Malaysia are to build a more competitive national side in the coming years. "This is a challenging project, but I'm excited. With support from all parties, I'm confident Harimau Malaya can go even further than before," Cheng Hoe added.
New Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Cklamovski: I hope Cape Verde show up with their best
PETALING JAYA: National coach Peter Cklamovski is still in the dark over whether Cape Verde will be sending their main squad for the upcoming friendlies but insists Harimau Malaya are focused on the task at hand. "I hope so. No confirmation because they haven't announced yet. I've got nothing to do with their federation, but I hope they come at full strength. "And even if they don't, they've got some serious talent in their squad who'll want to prove a point. "Either way, it's going to be an exciting game — Cape Verde trying to give their best and a Malaysian team eager to make the country proud," said Cklamovski at Wisma FAM on Thursday. Malaysia will take on the Blue Sharks, ranked world No. 72, at the KLFA Stadium on May 29, followed by a closed-door match at the National Stadium on June 3 — both crucial tune-ups ahead of their Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10 in Bukit Jalil. However, as reported by Timesport on Monday, concerns remain over whether Malaysia will face the 'real' Cape Verde team, with the FA of Malaysia (FAM) still unable to confirm their squad list. The situation has triggered memories of the infamous "Zimbabwe sham" in 2009, when local side Monomotapa United posed as their national team in two matches against Malaysia — a fiasco that caused national embarrassment after it emerged Harimau Malaya had played imposters dressed in Zimbabwe colours. Despite the uncertainty, Cklamovski is pressing ahead with preparations for the Vietnam clash, beginning with a three-phase national training camp kicking off on May 18 in Johor Bahru. A total of 38 players have been called up, with the staggered phases aimed at managing player fatigue after what he described as one of the longest domestic seasons in world football. "Phase One is the start of our preparations for an important match against Vietnam. "Phase Two will be announced on May 25, and there'll be a few changes to the squad. Then we've got the final phase in early June, which is the selection for the Vietnam game," he said. Cklamovski stressed that the approach takes into account Malaysia's unique football calendar. "Players need a bit of a break. Those reporting for Phase One have had four weeks off. The ones coming in for Phase Two will also have had the same off-season period. "We've also named six under-23 players as part of our commitment to building the youth pathway moving forward," he said. Each player has been given a personalised off-season programme designed by head of sports science Dr Craig Duncan to ensure they return to camp fit and ready. "Every day in camp matters. Players will be cut from phase to phase, and in Phase Three we hope to include some Malaysian players based abroad. "From Day One, players know they need to perform to stay in the squad," added Cklamovski. Foreign-based duo Dion Cools and Hector Hevel are expected to arrive on June 1 due to club commitments. Cools recently won the Thai League 1 title with Buriram United, while Hevel, who plays for Portuguese side Portimonense, impressed in the last outing against Nepal on March 25, helping Malaysia win 2-0 in their opening Group F match of the Asian Cup qualifiers. Cklamovski will monitor every detail during the centralised camp, even as doubts remain over the strength of the Cape Verde line-up. "We're focused on developing our game and applying our principles. We'll implement them against Cape Verde to put ourselves in a strong position ahead of Vietnam," he said. THE SQUAD FIRST PHASE (May 19) Goalkeeper: Azri Ghani, Haziq Nadzli, Rahadiazli Rahalim, Syed Nasrulhaq Syed Bidin; Defender: Aiman Hakimi Othman, Alif Ahmad, Daniel Ting, Dominic Tan, Gabriel Palmero, Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar, Quentin Cheng, Safwan Mazlan, Shafizan Arshad, Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili, Zikri Khalili; Midfield: Hayqal Danish, Nathaniel Shio Hong Wan, Muhammad Abu Khalil, Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Nooa Laine, Stuart Wilkin, Syamer Kutty Abba; Forward: Arif Aiman Hanapi, Faisal Halim, Fergus Tierney, Haqimi Azim, Paulo Josue, Safawi Rasid. SECOND PHASE (May 25) Goalkeeper: Syihan Hazmi Mohamed; Defender: La'Vere Corbin-Ong, Matthew Davies, Shahrul Saad, Junior Eldstal; Midfield: Afiq Fazail, Romel Morales, Endrick dos Santos. THIRD PHASE (June 5) Defender: Dion Cools; Midfield: Hector Hevel.
