KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s head coach, Pau Marti Vicente, was all smiles after Harimau Malaya clinched the Merdeka Cup title last night with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Lebanon in the final at Bukit Jalil Stadium.
Romel Morales’s goal in the 33rd minute was enough to secure Malaysia’s 13th title in the Merdeka Cup competition, which has been held since 1957.
This triumph is particularly sweet for Vicente, as it marks only his second match in charge since taking over from Kim Pan-gon last month.
However, the Spaniard’s journey to securing his place as Malaysia’s long-term leader is far from over.
With four crucial matches still on the horizon, including October friendlies against New Zealand and other opponents, followed by two more in November, and the all-important Asean Championship (formerly known as the AFF Cup), the pressure on Vicente has much to prove.
On paper, even though he has only managed two matches, the Spanish-born coach boasts a 100% winning rate, having also defeated the Philippines 2-1 last Wednesday.
“I feel good. I think we have a very good staff and a group of strong players. We all have a good relationship, and I believe that this is the most important thing where the team and staff are united. We want to spend this time together and enjoy the moment.
“I think all players have the potential to start, and this is the message I’m sending to everyone, so every player must be ready to play. This group isn’t made up of just 5 or 10 players; we have 26 players in this camp, and there are even more who should be here but weren’t selected.
“So, while I’m happy that everyone can be part of this, I’m sorry for those who couldn’t play,” said Vicente in a press conference after the match.
Vicente’s success in leading Malaysia to victory in the Merdeka Cup not only ended the nation’s 11-year title drought but also promised to boost Malaysia’s Fifa world ranking.
Following yesterday’s win, Malaysia is set to climb from 134th to 131st, overtaking neighbouring Indonesia, which currently sits at 133rd.
If Vicente can sustain this winning momentum, much like his mentor Pan Gon did before him, FAM may not need to search for a new coach, even though its president, Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, is actively scouting for potential candidates.
Malaysia is set to embark on a crucial campaign next year as they compete in the Third Round of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, scheduled to take place around March 2025. – September 9, 2024