KUALA LUMPUR — Despite lacking proper infrastructure and top-tier footballing DNA, Timor Leste’s determination to become a competitive force in the sport is commendable.
In contrast to more developed nations like Malaysia, which is ready to break the bank to hire world-class coaches and technical staff, Timor-Leste’s journey remains a challenging one.
On Sunday, Timor-Leste, which gained independence from Indonesia in 2002, suffered a heavy 10-0 defeat to Thailand in their Asean Cup opening Group A tie in Vietnam.
This is only Timor-Leste’s fourth appearance in the biennial competition since their debut in 2004.
Tomorrow, they face Malaysia, ranked 132nd in the world, in their second Group A match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, with another possible defeat on the cards.
Despite this, the tiny nation, home to around 1.39 million people, remains undeterred in its pursuit of progress.
Often seen as the weakest team in Southeast Asia, Timor-Leste is focused on learning and growing, with the hope of one day competing alongside their regional neighbours.
At the pre-match press conference today, Timor-Leste’s Chilean head coach, Simon Elissetche and team captain Joao Pedro both acknowledged the difficulties of their footballing journey but expressed a shared resolve to endure.
“We’re competing with very little preparation,” Elissetche said.
“We had just two weeks of training on the beach before flying to Vietnam two days before the competition because we don’t have a proper pitch.”
“To make matters worse, one of our best players suffered a severe knee injury and will be out for at least a year. Our top player (Gali Freitas), who plays in the Indonesian league, is also unavailable due to club commitments,” he added.
Despite these setbacks, Elissetche remains optimistic about his team’s potential, highlighting their talent and the opportunity to learn from the competition.
“Our situation is far from ideal, but we are still eager to compete, see other players and teams, and grow with each game.” Joao Pedro, who had a brief stint with Malaysia’s UiTM United from 2020 to 2021, echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“Looking at Malaysia, I don’t just see one good player; all 11, including the substitutes, are quality players,” he said.
“We’ll face tough games, but that’s the point. These teams have excellent football infrastructure, and after this tournament, we can all learn and prepare for the next challenges, like the AFC Asia Cup qualifiers.”
Currently ranked 198th in the world, Timor Leste is the lowest-ranked Asean team and has never won a match in the regional tournament.
Malaysia, on the other hand, has a perfect record against them. Malaysia, after being held to a 2-2 draw by Cambodia in their opening Group A match in Phnom Penh, will look to secure their first win of the competition tomorrow to stay in contention for a spot in the semi-finals.
The other team in Group A is Singapore. Only the top two teams from Groups A and B will advance to the semi-finals. – December 10, 2024