Sport : FIFA ASEAN Cup: Stage Set For Harimau Malaya To Roar Against Bangladesh

Don't focus on the final yet, the top priority is Bangladesh, insisted Harimau Malaya interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe ahead of their FIFA Asean Cup opener against the South Asian team. The coach stressed his squad's sole concentration on Bangladesh, acknowledging the opening match's inherent difficulties. He also sought to motivate his players by setting a target for the team's arrival at the final, set by newly appointed FA of Malaysia president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan.

Cheng Hoe admitted that the first match can be challenging, but the team is fully focused on their opening game. He praised the players' excitement to participate in the inaugural FIFA Asean Cup, and highlighted the importance of starting with a good result against Bangladesh.

All 23 players in the squad are fit and available for selection, giving the coach ample options to construct his best starting lineup. Despite the short preparation time, the Harimau Malaya team remains well-prepared, even after making last-minute changes to the original roster. Over the past few days, three players had to be replaced.

Harimau Malaya will open their campaign against Bangladesh at Gelora Bung Karno, playing against Indonesia three days later at the same venue, followed by a match against Singapore at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on October 1. The final is scheduled for October 5 at Gelora Bung Karno.