SHAH ALAM: The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) is confident that the Harimau Malaya squad can beat Indonesia in their Group G opening match of the World Cup 2022/Asia Cup 2023 second round qualifier at Stadium Gelora Bung Karno in Jakarta on Thursday. FAM president Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin said victory is within reach if the players fully focus on the game without being distracted by the immense pressure expected from the Indonesian fans. “I have some confidence (to win) because our record against Indonesia is quite good.
We won the SEA Games (gold in 2011) and AFF Suzuki Cup (in 2010) in Jakarta, so it’s not impossible for our team to win. “Because of our desire to qualify for (final round of) Asia Cup 2023, we definitely need to start by collecting three points,” he told a press conference after a doa selamat ceremony for the safety of the national squad and fans at his residence here yesterday.
Also present were his deputy Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, the 24-member Harimau Malaya squad and chief coach Tan Cheng Hoe, and FAM staff. Hamidin said he believed the Harimau Malaya squad could cope with the Garuda fans, as evident
when they beat Indonesia to lift the AFF Suzuki Cup 2010 in Jakarta.
Asked on the security aspect, Hamidin said the Harimau Malaya squad are scheduled to go to the stadium by bus on match day but would not rule out the possibility of using the Barracuda armoured personnel carrier. He said several Malaysian policemen had gone to Jakarta to discuss security arrangements with their Indonesian counterparts to ensure the safety of Malaysian players and supporters throughout their stay there. Barracuda was used to ferry the Malaysian players after the 2011 SEA Games football final in Jakarta. – Bernama
