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Harimau Malaya Reaches ASEAN Cup Semifinals, Coach Urges Continued Focus
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Sports

Harimau Malaya Reaches ASEAN Cup Semifinals, Coach Urges Continued Focus

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe acknowledges Malaysia's progress to the ASEAN Cup semifinals but stresses the team's journey is far from over.
  • Malaysia secured a spot in the final four by defeating the Philippines 1-0, accumulating nine points in Group B.
  • Cheng Hoe credits the team's success to player determination, mutual trust, and coaching support, despite initial preparation challenges.

Interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe remains grounded despite Harimau Malaya's successful qualification for the 2026 ASEAN Cup semifinals, emphasizing that the team's journey is still ongoing.

Malaysia secured their place in the final four by defeating the Philippines 1-0 in their final Group B match at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium. The team amassed nine points, finishing behind group winners Thailand, who secured 12 points. Cheng Hoe acknowledged the significance of this achievement, especially considering the team's "deficient" preparation prior to the tournament.

"From the beginning, we knew the team's preparation was lacking and the journey was quite bumpy," Cheng Hoe stated. "But because of the players' own desire, their trust in each other as a team, and the coaching staff who never stopped providing support, we ultimately succeeded in qualifying for the semifinals."

From the beginning, we knew the team's preparation was lacking and the journey was quite bumpy. But because of the players' own desire, their trust in each other as a team, and the coaching staff who never stopped providing support, we ultimately succeeded in qualifying for the semifinals.

— Tan Cheng HoeThe interim head coach reflected on the team's challenging preparation and credited their success to the players and staff.

This success is particularly sweet as few had high expectations for Malaysia to advance past the group stage given the circumstances. "Initially, perhaps no one gave us a chance to qualify for the semifinals," Cheng Hoe admitted. "As a coach, I am grateful to all the coaching staff and the players who gave the team the confidence to reach the semifinals."

However, Cheng Hoe is acutely aware of the significant challenge ahead as Vietnam awaits in the semifinals. Malaysia will host the first leg at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium on August 16, with the return leg three days later at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.

Initially, perhaps no one gave us a chance to qualify for the semifinals. As a coach, I am grateful to all the coaching staff and the players who gave the team the confidence to reach the semifinals.

— Tan Cheng HoeCheng Hoe expressed gratitude for the team's achievement, noting that expectations were low before the tournament.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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