PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya coach Peter Cklamovski delivered both a resounding victory and a firm message of support for the man he credited as the backbone of Malaysian football - Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.
Cklamovski said, without the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner, Malaysian football could be done with.
The Australian made the statement after Malaysia's 3-0 win against Laos in a Group F game of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifier at the New Laos Stadium in Vientiane on Thursday amid the uncertainty and public frustration following Malaysia’s FIFA suspension.
The team played without seven mixed-heritage players, who had been banned by the world body for 12 months for doctored documents, which questioned their eligibility to play for Malaysia. The FA of Malaysia were also fined RM1.8mil.
Cklamovski defended the Johor Crown Prince on the latter's role in the Harimau Malaya project.
"There is a lot of negativity towards TMJ, which is not fair and unwarranted. He is a visionary leader - without him, Malaysian football would have been finished a long time ago," said Cklamovski.
Cklamovski credited TMJ for his leadership and investment in elevating the national team’s standards, from securing government support and funding to ensuring top-class logistics and facilities.
"Who gets the funding from the Prime Minister and the support from the government? It is TMJ, not FAM," he asserted.
"Who raises the standards, who gets the charter flights for us to arrive here like professionals and prepare well for a tough game?
That’s TMJ. The administration errors causing the FIFA issues - that’s FAM, not TMJ. Without him, Malaysian football is finished.”
He praised his side’s composure and professionalism in dealing with a tricky pitch and the pressure of off-field distractions.
"The win was for the Malaysian people," said Cklamovski after the match on Thursday.
"We wanted to provide them with the belief that we can actually achieve something special, so I am proud with the players for doing that."
"With all the noise outside, we have controlled what we can control," he said.
