KUALA LUMPUR – National football head coach Pau Marti Vincente is determined to create his own identity for Harimau Malaya by proving his mettle in this year’s Merdeka tournament.
Vincente, who replaced former head coach Kim Pan-gon in July, will face his first test in the hot seat during the 43rd edition of the tournament. He will guide his team against Lebanon, the Philippines, and defending champions Tajikistan in a bid to win the coveted trophy.
The tournament is scheduled from September 4 to September 8 at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.
Vincente, who previously served as the assistant head coach for the Hong Kong football team (2012-2013), Adelaide United FC (2013-2017), and the Barcelona under-18 team (2017-2022), said he is ready to embrace the challenge by introducing several new faces to the squad.
“I’m here for a reason, and I want to create my own identity with the team. Of course, I will stick to some of the key attributes from my predecessor, but as a coach, I also want to establish my own name.
“This is my first significant role, and I need to instil my philosophy step by step. The advantage I have right now is that I already know most of these players from my time as the assistant head coach for Malaysia.
“My current challenge is to learn more about the players I haven’t worked with before and to try to get the best out of them in the coming months.
“That’s why I’ve brought in some new faces and players who haven’t been frequently used for the Merdeka tournament. This way, I can get to know them better before the tournament. I can’t share what my tactics will be, but I can assure you that my style, system, and philosophy will be different from those of the previous coaches,” Vincente said during a press conference at Wisma FAM today.
At the same time, Vincente expressed his hope that Ultras Malaya would show up and support the team during the tournament, noting that their support is crucial for the team’s performance.
It was reported that Ultras Malaya, the largest supporter group in the country, has been planning to boycott this year’s tournament while demanding the resignation of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
“The support of Ultras Malaya means a lot to the entire team, and we need their presence to motivate us to do better. It will be a significant loss if they don’t attend, as they are our pillar of strength.
“But at the end of the day, life is about moving forward. On our side, we will make sure to make everyone proud through our performance, whether they are in the stadium or watching from home,” Vincente added.
The Spaniard has received high praise from Pan-gon in the past, with the South Korean coach describing Vincente as one of the most hardworking coaches he has worked with in his 22-year coaching career. – August 21, 2024