PETALING JAYA: Harimau Malaya coach Peter Cklamovski did not just celebrate a convincing victory over Laos, he also delivered a powerful defence of Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, describing him as the driving force that is keeping Malaysian football alive.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding Malaysia’s FIFA suspension of seven mixed-heritage players, Cklamovski credited the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) owner for transforming the national set-up with his leadership, funding and vision.
“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.
The Australian said it after Malaysia’s 3-0 win over Laos in Group F of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifiers in Vientiane on Thursday.
Cklamovski did not mince his words when emphasising Tunku Ismail’s contribution.
“Who gets the funding from the Prime Minister and the support from the government? It is TMJ, not FAM,” he said.
“Who raises the standards, who gets the charter flights for us to arrive like professionals and prepare well for a tough game? That’s TMJ. The administrative errors causing the FIFA issues, that’s FAM, not TMJ. Without him, Malaysian football is finished.”
Cklamovski’s remarks come at a time when the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) are under intense scrutiny following FIFA’s decision to suspend seven mixed-heritage players for using falsified documents in their registration. FAM were also fined 350,000 Swiss francs (RM1.8mil).
Despite the off-field turmoil, the Harimau Malaya gave a composed and professional display at the New Laos Stadium, with goals from Arif Aiman Hanapi (52nd minute), Dion Cools (68th), and Faisal Halim (95th) sealing the win. Cklamovski said the performance was meant to inspire the nation during a challenging time.
“It was for the Malaysian people. We wanted to give them hope and inspiration through how we played football,” he said.
“We wanted to show them that we can achieve something special. I’m proud of the players for doing that.”
Cklamovski lauded his players’ adaptability on a bumpy pitch and their ability to stay focused despite the mounting distractions off the field.
“The pitch wasn’t easy but it was still better than some of the pitches in the Super League,” he said with a grin.
“The boys adapted well, controlled the game, and found good spaces to create more chances. We’ll go home, analyse, and see what can be improved further.”
He also commended his players’ discipline and patience against a resilient Laos side.
“It was a tough game, but credit to the boys for committing to our football. We respected Laos – they were tough opponents, especially in the first half. We stayed patient and disciplined, and in the second half, we got our reward.”
Cklamovski further addressed the absence of newly naturalised striker Jordan Mintah from the matchday squad, revealing it was due to pending paperwork.
“I’m not sure – it’s a document that needs to come from his naturalisation of five years, so it’s out of my control.
“Once it arrives, he’ll be available for selection,” he explained.
