KUALA LUMPUR – Former national footballers, who once proudly donned the Malaysia jersey, have been quick to shower praise upon the Harimau Muda for securing a spot in the next year’s U-23 Asian Cup.
The national U-23 football squad have confirmed a place in the youth tournament in Qatar next year after emerging as one of the best four second-placed teams from the 11 qualifying groups and maintaining a better disciplinary record than their closest challenger, Iran.
Speaking to Scoop, Shukor Adan, an iconic figure in the local football scene, expressed his excitement and admiration for the young squad.
“This qualification is a testament to the hard work and dedication of these young players.
“They have shown that they have the skill and determination to compete on the international stage.
“I’m proud of what they have achieved, and I believe they can make Malaysia proud in Qatar,” said Shukor, who captained the Harimau Malaya in the 2007 Asian Cup.
Shukor said that he is happy to witness the youth team following in the senior squad’s footsteps by qualifying for the prestigious continental tournament.
“I personally admire the fact that the U-23 team has followed in the footsteps of the senior squad by qualifying for the prestigious tournament.
“Players like T. Saravanan, whom I have trained during my time as an assistant coach at Kuala Lumpur City FC, have shown great progress in the qualification by scoring three goals,” added Shukor.
At the same time, Safee Sali, who scored 39 goals in 76 caps for Malaysia, echoed a similar sentiment, saying that the team has attained a remarkable achievement and hopes the players will use this tournament as valuable experience.
“Qualifying for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup is no small feat. It’s a fantastic opportunity for these young players to gain valuable experience and represent our country.
“I hope they seize this chance to learn, grow, and make a mark on the international stage. Malaysia is behind them all the way,” said Safee.
At the same time, Hairuddin Omar, popularly known as “Hai-O” among local football fans, shared his optimism for the future and that matters that can be improved in the current Harimau Muda squad.
“There is a lot of potential in this under-23 team. They have a great mix of talent, and they have shown that they can handle pressure.
“However, I still believe that the team has a long way to go. Our players need to improve their game, and losing for the third consecutive time to Thailand is unacceptable.
“This qualification is just the beginning. I believe they can continue to improve and become a force to be reckoned with in Asian football,” Hairuddin said.
This will be the third time Malaysia will be represented at the U-23 Asian Cup after the 2018 and 2022 editions.
The Harimau Muda’s best achievement in the youth tournament was in 2018 when they reached the quarter-finals in China.
Sixteen teams will participate in next year’s tournament, scheduled to take place in Qatar from April 15 to May 3. – September 13, 2023