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New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Another wake-up call for Malaysian football after Asean Under-23 flop
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia have just found out sadly that they are not among the top four nations in Under-23 football in Southeast Asia. So, what does that say about Malaysia's chances in the Asian Under-23 qualifier, which is of a much higher level? Can the feeble Harimau Muda knock themselves back in shape for the Under-23 Asian Cup qualifying competition in Thailand from Sept 3-9? Malaysia failed to reach the Under-23 Asean Championship semi-finals in Jakarta last week after losing 2-0 to the Philippines, beating Brunei 7-1 and drawing 0-0 with Indonesia in the past week. Football critic Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim has warned that unless swift action is taken, Malaysia could suffer another early exit in the Asian campaign. "I watched the match against Indonesia. Our players showed they can play under pressure in front of the Indonesian crowd. They were good individually, but the problem is they couldn't score or function as a team," said the AFC Professional Coaching Diploma holder. "The players also seemed to lack match fitness, probably because they're coming off-season. The preparation appears insufficient. By now, there should already be a full analysis of what went wrong and a plan to fix it. "We have barely two months before the Under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers. Time is short, but if there's a clear plan, the team can bounce back." Malaysia are drawn in Group F with hosts Thailand, Lebanon and Mongolia in the Asian qualifiers. In the last two editions — 2022 in Uzbekistan and 2024 in Qatar — Malaysia failed to progress past the group stage. Malaysia's best performance was in their debut in 2018 in China, where they reached the quarter-finals before going down 2-1 to South Korea. Zulakbal said that addressing the team's lack of leadership and bite in attack must be a key focus. "The FAM technical committee needs to identify the flaws, formulate solutions, and design training plans to address them. There's not much time, but with proper planning, the team can be in better shape," said Zulakbal. "There is no clear leadership in the squad and the finishing is lacking. These are crucial areas that need to be fixed. The team also need a proper periodisation plan for the qualifiers. "The team have talented players, but they need proper preparation to become a solid, fighting unit. If we don't address the issues, we'll face another heartbreak." Meanwhile coach Nafuzi Zain admitted that his National Under-23 team still have much to improve on. He said preparation and planning must be given serious attention, especially when dealing with young players who have limited international experience. Nafuzi said the current squad are still in the team-building phase and need more time and space to grow. "Overall, there are many things that need to be improved, particularly in terms of team preparation." Nafuzi believes that the Under-23 team have great potential, but they need long-term planning and comprehensive support from all stakeholders. He also called on fans to remain patient and continue supporting the national youth squad.
New Straits Times
16-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
No excuses: U-23 loss exposes cracks in Malaysia's 'football revolution'
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia had no business losing to the Philippines at the Under-23 Asean Championship, especially with the country in the midst of a self-declared football revolution. On Tuesday, Nafuzi Zain's side were expected to steamroll the Philippines in their Group A opener, but instead slumped to a shocking 2-0 defeat in Jakarta, with 18-year-old Otu Bisong netting both goals. The Young Tigers dominated with 70 per cent possession, but their poor shot accuracy — just 23 per cent compared to the Philippines' 43 — proved costly. Despite fielding nine players from the squad that won the Under-19 Asean Championship three years ago in Indonesia, Malaysia looked stagnant. Their three warm-up matches before flying to Jakarta appeared insufficient. Football critic Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim didn't hold back in his assessment, saying the team looked unprepared. "They were slow to settle and seemed nervous, conceding early and late in the first half," said Zulakbal. "We had chances but couldn't convert them — that shows the preparation wasn't good enough. "The Philippines, under no pressure, played simple football and got the win. "When our senior team beat Vietnam 4-0 (in last month's Asian Cup qualifier), it gave a huge lift to Malaysian football. But confidence without proper preparation is dangerous. "We're seeing so-called weaker teams like Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines improving. The gap is narrowing." Zulakbal said Malaysia must quickly move past the defeat, as their mental strength will be tested in Friday's match against Brunei and Monday's clash with hosts Indonesia. Coach Nafuzi. whose "Nafuzi Ball" brand of play once brought excitement to the Super League with Terengganu and Kedah, must now dig deep tactically to lift the squad. "It's now a do-or-die mission for the U-23 side. The players must respond positively. A good coach lifts morale and finds solutions," said Zulakbal.
New Straits Times
24-06-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Analyst fears JDT's Asian quest could affect national team
SUPER League giants Johor Darul Ta'zim's (JDT) pursuit of Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) glory could come at a cost to the national team. This is the view of football analyst Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim, who holds an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Professional Coaching Diploma. The Southern Tigers have added foreign-based national players Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel to their squad for the 2025–2026 season. JDT already boast a strong core of national players including Syihan Hazmi, Matthew Davies, La'Vere Corbin-Ong, Shahrul Saad, Afiq Fazail, Nazmi Faiz Mansor, Arif Aiman Hanapi, as well as naturalised players Mohamadou Sumareh and Romel Morales. Zulakbal believes JDT's determination to succeed at Asia's highest level is pushing them to reinforce every area of their squad. "JDT are clearly dominant in the M-League due to their squad depth and structure, but the ACLE is a different ball game," said Zulakbal. "The ACLE has become JDT's main target. They've been investing heavily for several seasons now, but haven't made it past the second round. "We've seen them bring in big name foreign players, and with national and naturalised players, they've built a strong side — but the breakthrough still hasn't come. "Now, by bringing in foreign-based national players, they're trying to raise the bar even higher. There's nothing wrong with ambition — in fact, it's a positive sign. We should commend JDT for having this winning mindset." However, Zulakbal also warned that the move could affect the national team in the long run. He pointed out that foreign-based players like Irazabal and Hevel demonstrated a high-level of play during Malaysia's 4-0 win over Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier earlier this month. "We want our foreign-based national players to continue playing abroad because they benefit from greater intensity and competitiveness, which sharpens them for international duty," he said. "Against Vietnam, we saw their quality and composure. "If they return to play in the M-League, which lacks the same level of competition, there's a risk they'll become blunt — and that will impact the national team's overall quality.
New Straits Times
31-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Tactician who toppled Man United now targets Harimau Malaya
KUALA LUMPUR: It won't just be Malaysia and Vietnam battling it out at the National Stadium on June 10 — a tactical showdown is also brewing on the sidelines. National coach Peter Cklamovski is expected to face his stiffest test yet in Vietnam boss Kim Sang Sik, a man whose strategic nous was on full display when he masterminded the Asean All-Stars' stunning 1-0 win over Manchester United on Wednesday. Despite assembling the team just two days before the friendly and missing key players due to World Cup and Asian Cup qualifiers, Sang Sik's side looked anything but disorganised. Against a Red Devils squad boasting captain Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho and Amad Diallo, the Asean XI pulled off a defensive and attacking masterclass to snatch a famous win in Bukit Jalil. That result has raised eyebrows — and expectations — ahead of Vietnam's visit, with critics predicting a fiercely organised and compact Vietnamese unit arriving in Kuala Lumpur. Football pundit Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim believes Asean XI's triumph over United was no fluke. "Sang Sik didn't have the best players, but still got them playing as a unit. That speaks volumes about his tactical awareness," said Zulakbal. "It also suggests he's working with a vast scouting network and strong data analysis behind the scenes." "In modern football, analytics dictate a lot, and Sang Sik clearly knows how to use that to his advantage." Malaysia will need to be sharp. The Golden Star Warriors have dominated the rivalry in recent years, winning seven of the last eight meetings since 2016. The last time Harimau Malaya beat Vietnam was 11 years ago at the AFF Cup But Cklamovski's side have shown signs of promise. On Thursday, they held world No. 72 Cape Verde to a 1-1 draw at the KLFA Stadium. With the possible inclusion of newly naturalised stars like Rodrigo Holgado, hopes are high for a turnaround. Still, Vietnam remain an enigma. There's been little information on their squad, a move that hasn't gone unnoticed. "We've seen very few updates on their preparations. It's clear Sang Sik is keeping his cards close to his chest," said Zulakbal. "Vietnam are always well-drilled and difficult to break down. But Malaysia have also been doing their homework." Several Malaysian officials were spotted in the stands during the Asean XI's win over United. Not to be outdone, Vietnam's coaches also kept tabs on Harimau Malaya during their clash with Cape Verde.
New Straits Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Increased imports quota will boost big guns' chances abroad, says critic
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Football League's (MFL) decision to expand the foreign player quota from nine to 15 for the 2025-2026 Super League season is expected to boost Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) and Selangor's chances in international competitions. Last season, JDT invested heavily in a bid to create history in the Asian Champions League (ACL) but crashed out in the round of 16 while Selangor failed to progress beyond the group stage of the ACL 2. Football critic Dr Zulakbal Abdul Karim believes the Super League is set to become a "training ground" for these two powerhouses as they prepare for continental competitions. "JDT and Selangor are the best teams in the Super League and have the financial strength to sign 15 imports and pay their wages without any issues," said Zulakbal recently. "JDT have been investing in their squad for years in the hopes of making an impact in the ACL, though they've yet to go beyond the round of 16. "Selangor also have ambitions in ACL 2. MFL's decision to increase the import quota from nine to 15 is aimed at supporting these two clubs to bring glory to Malaysian football. "Most other Super League teams are already struggling to pay players' wages. And with this increase in imports (quota), I think many will have to be content to compete among themselves to finish (third) behind JDT and Selangor." Zulakbal added that while most Super League clubs are unlikely to match JDT and Selangor in the near term, they must persevere and develop long-term strategies to remain relevant in Malaysian football. He pointed out that even dominant clubs eventually face decline, citing Manchester United and Real Madrid as examples. "Globally, it's rare for a club to dominate indefinitely. We've seen this in the M-League as well, with Pahang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan all having their successful eras eventually come to an end," added the AFC Elite Instructor. "I think other Super League teams should be brave enough to field their talented youngsters. "Yes, they will struggle at first against the heavyweights but over a few seasons, they will improve and be ready to challenge the big guns. "I foresee that one day JDT will slow down—either after achieving all they set out to or if their funding is reduced. When that happens, teams that have developed local talent will be ready to emerge as the new heavyweights."
