PETALING JAYA: National winger Faisal Halim is now an injury concern for Harimau Malaya.
Without specifying the nature of his injury, national interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe said they are sweating on his status ahead of their final Group A match in the FIFA Asean Cup against Causeway rivals Singapore at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung today.
“After the game against Indonesia, Mickey (Faisal) had some niggles and when we came to Bandung, the focus was on recovery but we kept a real close eye on him,” he said.
“We are not sure whether he would play against Singapore but we are hopeful that he can be part of the game because he is one of our key players.”
But Cheng Hoe did say that even if he misses, there are other players he can rely on. “They just need to be prepared, whoever I am relying on.”
The wingers in the team are Manuel Hidalgo, G. Pavithran and Arif Aiman Hanapi.
Hidalgo, who has been used as a playmaker in the games against Bangladesh (3-0) and Indonesia (0-0), could return to his usual role as a winger, or Cheng Hoe could opt for pace in the form of Pavithran.
Arif is the undisputed starter and he will be tasked with causing problems for the Lions’ defence.
Cheng Hoe knows it is never easy taking on Singapore, coached by Gavin Lee, one of the youngest coaches in international football, just 36.
He said they are disciplined as a unit and the fact they have qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup showed their progress as a team.
“Under Coach Gavin, Singapore achieved a great result by qualifying for the Asian Cup. They are a highly disciplined side with a strong desire for improvement.
“They have played together for a long time, and their key strength lies in their ability to perform cohesively as a unit.
“Knowing that only a win will guarantee our qualification to the next round, we must stay sharp throughout the match. We need to embrace the pressure and challenge, using it as motivation rather than a burden.”
Malaysia must win to keep their hopes of a place in the final alive, and will also need a better goal difference than Indonesia, who face Bangladesh in Jakarta today too.
Only the group winners will qualify for the final, while the second-placed team will play in the third-fourth playoff.
So far, Thailand have confirmed their spot in the final after finishing top of Group B.
Cheng Hoe said Lion City’s Ilhan Fandi poses a major threat in front of goal.
“Furthermore, their defensive core, led by captain Hariss Harun and Safuwan (Baharuddin), provides them with immense stability, composure, and solid tactical organisation,” he said.
“But I have complete confidence in our frontline, including players like Bergson (da Silva), who has been performing brilliantly in attack.
“We hope this match against Singapore will be our defining moment. We understand that a victory is essential, but what matters most is taking the right approach.”
