PETALING JAYA: Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s closed-door motivational speech to the national team before their game against Vietnam has gone viral.
“There are some who doubt us, never mind. We are doing something new,” he was heard saying in a short video clip.
Those words certainly inspired the Harimau Malaya players as they put up a fiery show in their 2027 Asian Cup third-round qualifiers game against Vietnam on Tuesday.
The national team walked away proudly with a 4-0 win at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in front of over 50,000 fans.
He told the boys to ignore negative talks but to keep their focus in restoring the image of Harimau Malaya.
“We are trying to bring national football to a new level. This is like a revolution. Whatever we have built, it would mean nothing if we do not have the result.
“There are some who doubt us, they are not used to it. Let your performance speak louder than what they think.
“This performance, this unity, this is our home, and it’s time for us to show our true colours,” he said in the locker room.
“If we change football in this country, it’s all because of you,” TMJ said to the players.
“No one else, you are the warriors. You give them (the fans) the sense of belonging. You make them believe.
“Show our character, our fighting spirit. This is our home!” he said.
And the boys surely delivered. The goals came from newly arrived heritage players Joao Figueiredo (49th minute), Rodrigo Holgado (58th minute), followed by another two goals from seasoned players La’vere Corbin-Ong (66th minute) and Dion Cools (88th minute), who are also heritage players.
