I have to admit that I haven’t supported the national football team, let alone watched local football since the glory days of Mokhtar Dahari, Arumugam, Santokh Singh, Soh Chin Aun, James Chua and Shukor Salleh. And even the 90s semi-pro leagues with Zainal Abidin, Serbegeth Singh, Ong Yu Tiang. Yes, it’s been that long. For the simple reason that despite being a ‘national sport’, football has been a source of disappointment and mental torture for a lot of us. How far we have fallen from being one of the best in Asia in the 80s, then battling with the likes of South Korea and Saudi Arabia.
Well, guess what? Since last year’s SEA Games win, our young, under-23 Harimau Malaya team, led by coach K. Rajagopal, has re-instilled interest and support, as much as given us that glimmer of hope for the future of the sport. Fielding a mostly young team, the Tigers showed plenty of promise, grit and commitment during the tournament. Obliterating Indonesia 3-0 in the final first leg on home ground, then emerging first time champions of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 with a 4-2 aggregate win at the intimidating Gelora Bung Karno Stadium was certainly a huge bonus!
Not only that, lethal striker Safee Sali was presented with the Golden Boot Award, topping the scoreboard with 5 goals. Goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi was without a doubt, Man of the Match, in my opinion, with his spectacular saves and calm demeanour. Outright talent there. He, amazingly enough, was 2nd top most trending topic on Twitter!
If anything, the current crop of young Harimau Malaya padawans will shape the future of Malaysian football. The AFF Cup 2010 win is just one little step for greater things to come. It’s fantastic to see Malaysians coming together, donning yellow jerseys and giving full support to the team.
I’m proud to be Malaysian. Syabas, Harimau Malaya!
Malaysia Squad List
Goalkeepers
1 MOHD FARIZAL BIN MARLIAS
22 KHAIRUL FAHMI BIN CHE MAT
28 MOHD SHARBINEE ALLAWEE BIN RAMLI
Defenders
2 MOHD SABRE BIN MAT ABU
3 MOHD FAIZAL BIN MUHAMAD
4 MOHD ASRARUDDIN PUTRA BIN OMAR
5 NORHAFIZ ZAMANI BIN MISBAH
6 MOHD NASRIQ BIN BAHAROM
7 KHAIRUL HELMI BIN JOHARI
11 MOHAMAD AZMI BIN MUSLIM
18 MAHALLI BIN JASULI
24 MOHAMAD MUSLIM BIN AHMAD
27 MOHAMAD FADHLI BIN MOHD SHAS
Midfielders
8 SAFIQ BIN RAHIM
12 AMAR BIN ROHIDAN
13 AHMAD FAKRI BIN SAARANI
14 MOHD KHYRIL MUHYMEEN BIN ZAMBRI
15 GURUSAMY GOVANDAR KANDASAMY
16 KUNANLAN SUBRAMANIAM
17 ABDUL SHUKUR BIN JUSOH
19 MOHAMMAD FAIZAL BIN ABU BAKAR
21 MOHD AMIRULHADI BIN ZAINAL
23 BADDROL BIN BAKTHIAR
25 MOHD FANDI BIN OTHMAN
26 MOHAMAD ASHARI BIN SAMSUDIN
30 ABDUL HALIM BIN ZAINAL
Forwards
9 NORSHAHRUL IDLAN BIN TALAHA
10 MOHD SAFEE BIN MOHD SALI
20 IZZAQ FARIS BIN RAMLAN
29 CHANTHURU SUPPIAH
Coach: RAJAGOBAL R KRISHNASAMY (Malaysia)
