Bergson eager to shine for Harimau Malaya

Cheng Hoe, the interim head coach of Harimau Malaya, has urged fans and analysts to exercise patience while the team's new attacking trio develops chemistry. The trio, comprising Bergson da Silva, Arif Aiman Hanapi, and Faisal Halim, is seen as a formidable addition to the squad. However, Cheng Hoe stressed that building a strong understanding among these players will take time on the pitch.

Bergson, a prolific marksman for Johor Darul Ta zim and Malaysia's top wingers, is expected to address one of Malaysia's long-standing problems in front of goal. The coach expressed his satisfaction with Bergson's arrival, noting that he is an out-and-out goal poacher, which is vital for the team's clinical finishing.

However, Cheng Hoe also pointed out that while the combination of Bergson, Arif Aiman, and Faisal already possesses an innate understanding from their time together at JDT, Mickey Faisal will need matches to adapt to Bergson's movement. He emphasized that developing this intuitive chemistry on the pitch will require time and not happen instantly.

In addition to Bergson, Cheng Hoe has also backed defender Brad Tapp to strengthen Malaysia's defense. Tapp, who has demonstrated hard work, discipline, and commitment with JDT, is expected to provide much-needed stability and physical presence in the backline.

Cheng Hoe also mentioned that the clearance process for Argentine midfielder Manuel Hidalgo and experienced defender Shane Lowry, who is ruled out due to a hamstring injury, remains ongoing. The national squad is scheduled to assemble for centralised training on September 21 before flying out the following day for their tournament opener. The call-up list is anticipated to be released a few days prior to September 21.