KUALA LUMPUR: National football coach Peter Cklamovski has declared that his singular focus is on cultivating a football culture that inspires Malaysia's next generation of players, effectively using the national team’s performance as a serum to the "outside noise" currently surrounding Malaysian football.
Speaking following recent high-profile sanctions and ongoing appeals regarding the eligibility of several mixed-heritage players, which have cast a shadow over the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Cklamovski stressed his determination to concentrate solely on development and on-field excellence.
"I live my life, like I say ... for me, it’s about me getting better and me injecting that mentality into the team. I’m sure you see that with the players," Cklamovski stated after Malaysia’s 1-0 win over Nepal in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 third-round qualifiers at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday.
The Australian coach’s most passionate plea was directed at the grassroots level, positioning the senior squad as a crucial source of national motivation.
He described being deeply moved by the potential he witnesses in junior football across the country.
"My heart goes out, I’m genuine about this, to the kids, because when I go to under-10s, under-8s, under-7s, under-6s, under-14s, under-15s, and I watch a lot, I see Malaysian talent and a love for the game," he said.
For Cklamovski, the role of the senior side extends far beyond results. It is about setting a standard of play that resonates deeply with aspiring young athletes.
"As a national team, we get to inspire those kids to do something, and that’s the impact that a national team can have by the way we play," he explained.
Looking ahead, Cklamovski called for a collective, long-term strategic shift to secure the future talent pipeline, emphasising that true development requires a unified approach across the entire ecosystem.
"I hope within that, I can get the narrative out there around football. And maybe one day, we can sit down and have a good round table debate with everybody in the room and talk about youth development and how we can improve that.”
