KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya made a promising start under new head coach Peter Cklamovski, securing a 2-0 victory over Nepal in their opening Group F match of the Asian Cup qualifiers on Tuesday.
With a well organised and attacking style of play, relentless pressure, and an impressive debut from new midfielder Hector Hevel (pic), it was a performance that reflected the team’s transformation.
Even more remarkable was the fact that they had just eight days to prepare, without the benefit of any warm-up matches before the clash at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Johor.
Hevel opened the scoring in the 29th minute while Corbin Ong doubled the lead in the 70th with a well executed set-piece finish off an assist from Arif Aiman.
Cklamovski was pleased with the commitment shown by his players, praising their dedication throughout training. However, he acknowledged that there is still a long road ahead in their bid to secure a place in the Asian Cup.
“It’s part of our preparation. Once again, diligent work from the entire coaching staff and the players paid off. The players concentrated, executed well, and got their rewards.
‘’The most important thing for me is that they gave everything. Every player gave their all for the game and for their country, playing in a way that made all Malaysians proud. I think the way they performed was a significant step forward for us.
‘’We know there is still more to do, more room for improvement, and greater potential to unlock. We want to keep working hard to make the country proud,” said Cklamivski after the match.
Hevel was delighted to play a key role in Malaysia’s victory over Nepal, despite having little time to adjust to the squad.
The 28 year old, who used to play for Portimonense in the Portuguese League was the engine in midfield, orchestrating play with precise passing and seamless ball movement.
“Well, I think if we keep improving, this is a good start. But there will be tough opponents and difficult games ahead.
“I believe we have a chance if we continue to improve, work hard, and trust in what we are doing. If we stay committed, I think we can achieve our goal,” said Hevel.
The victory not only placed Malaysia second in Group F, level on three points with Vietnam, but is also set to boost their FIFA world ranking to 131.
Malaysia will be wary of Vietnam ahead of their June 10 showdown, especially after their dominant 5-0 victory over Laos.
