KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski has urged his players to rise to the occasion in their two upcoming Tier 1 international friendlies against Singapore and Palestine, calling the matches crucial for the team’s growth and development.
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 3 — Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski has urged his players to rise to the occasion in their two upcoming Tier 1 international friendlies against Singapore and Palestine, calling the matches crucial for the team’s growth and development.
Malaysia were unable to take part in the ongoing 2025 Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — which features top teams like Iran, Uzbekistan and Oman — due to logistical issues and player unavailability. As a result, Cklamovski views these friendlies as important opportunities to keep the team progressing.
“Singapore are a good side, and we’ll need to be at our best to get the result we want. Palestine are also tough opponents — they’re ranked in the top 100, so that’ll be a different test, which is great for us. Both games give us the chance to develop, challenge ourselves and keep improving,” the Australian coach said at a pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Malaysia will renew their traditional Causeway Derby rivalry with Gavin Lee’s Singapore before facing Palestine on Monday (Sept 8) at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
Cklamovski said he expects a tough contest against world number 159 Singapore, who have shown consistency in their playing style.
“We respect them. They’ve got good players and have been playing with a clear style for a couple of years now. I’m excited for the challenge. For us, it’s about playing our brand of football, finding the spaces where we can hurt them, and scoring goals. It’s a valuable test for our growth as a team,” he added.
National captain Dion Cools, meanwhile, is eager to put his recent experience in Japan’s J-League with Cerezo Osaka to good use for Harimau Malaya.
“The J-League is one of the strongest in Asia. Competing there every week gives me valuable experience that maybe some other players don’t have. I hope I can bring that to the pitch and help the team,” said the 29-year-old defender.
In their last five encounters across all competitions, Malaysia have recorded one win, two draws and two defeats against Singapore, with their most recent meeting ending in a 0-0 draw during the 2024 ASEAN Cup group stage. — Bernama
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