There is a new wave of confidence in Malaysian football after Harimau Malaya reached their fourth final in the biennial AFF Suzuki Cup – the premier football tournament in the Asean Region which is in its 12th edition.
Critics came out with their guns blazing just because the national team fell to a 2-0 defeat to Vietnam in a Group A match at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.
All that has changed as Malaysia whipped Myanmar 3-0 in a group match and then took off from there to shut the Thai cockiness, arrogance and handed them a nightmare at their famed Rajamangala Stadium with a fighting 2-2 draw in the second leg semi-final after a scoreless in the first leg in Bukit Jalil. Malaysia advanced on the away goals.
Tuesday is another “high intensity” match – this time it is the final and the time to exact revenge on the Vietnamese. The return-leg is at the My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi on Saturday.
For Cheng Hoe, the former international does not want to dwell on the past. Instead, Cheng Hoe wants to “blaze a new trail” to take Malaysian football to greater heights – starting with the Suzuki Cup final.
Malaysia’s only success in the region’s premier football tournament was in 2010 – the year when Cheng Hoe was assistant to (Datuk) K. Rajagobal – a respected regu that also won the Mother of All gold at the 2009 Laos Sea Games.
Cheng Hoe has injected new found confidence in the team and this has worked well despite criticism hurled at his style of coaching by many quarters. The Kedahan, however, has shut his ears to all the negatives.
“You have your ways to build a strong team. This is the best and I am happy to note that the style has brought results with some hiccups. Football fans ans critics too have now signing a different tune.
“I am rather optimistic of a positive result at Bukit Jalil. The environment itself is boost to the confidence of the players…it does not matter who plays and who is on the bench,” added Cheng Hoe.
With a sellout crowd at the National Stadium and millions who will be watching the match live on television in the comfort of their homes the Harimau Malaya will not be short of support. – BY RIZAL ABDULLAH
