Interim Malaysia boss Tan Cheng Hoe faces race against time to get Harimau Malaya ready

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — The challenge of preparing players during the off-season and the need to secure the cooperation of football clubs will be Tan Cheng Hoe’s main focus after being appointed the Harimau Malaya interim head coach ahead of next month’s Asean Championship campaign.

He said the current situation is far from ideal for the national squad as most players are in their off-season, thus requiring a meticulous approach to ensure their performance levels can be maintained.

“I hope the clubs can release the key players for the national team to undergo training for the Asean Championship,” he said in an audio clip released to the media today.

Tan, who previously served as the Harimau Malaya head coach from December 2017 to December 2021, hopes that all the players called up for training, slated to begin on July 15, will report for duty in peak physical and mental condition.

As for the national team’s target at the July 24-August 26 Asean Championship, he said their main focus is to prepare in stages and take it one match at a time.

“The target this time is to focus on our preparation one match at a time so as to achieve the best possible results, as we are aware that every team will be setting their sights on qualifying for the next stage,” said the 58-year-old Tan.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) earlier today announced the appointment of Tan as the interim head coach of Harimau Malaya, replacing Peter Cklamovski whose contract was terminated this month.

Tan described the appointment as a great honour and thanked FAM and all parties for their trust in him.

“I am deeply touched and feel a great sense of responsibility to ensure that the national football team remain on the best possible path,” he said, while urging supports to continue backing the Harimau Malaya.

In the Asean Championship, Malaysia have been drawn in Group B with Thailand, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos, while defending champions Vietnam are in Group A with Singapore, Indonesia, Cambodia and Timor-Leste. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. — Bernama