Cheng Hoe leaves future to FAM

Jakarta: Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe has ceded his future to the FA of Malaysia (FAM) following Malaysia's third-place finish in the FIFA Asean Cup. The coach expressed his readiness to continue leading the team if offered the opportunity, but emphasized that the decision about his role now lies with the governing body. Cheng Hoe stated, "I leave it to FAM to make the decision because, as long as I'm capable, I will give all my effort and energy to this national team."

Describing Malaysia's triumph, Cheng Hoe highlighted the importance of team spirit rather than individual brilliance. "The team's success came from the spirit of playing as a team, as one family that wanted to win, that was hungry for victory," he said. The Harimau Malaya team, he noted, was "focused not only on the pitch but also off the pitch, mixing together as a family with big ambitions."

Cheng Hoe credited the fans for their role in the victory, both those who traveled to Indonesia to support the team and those who continued to back Harimau Malaya from home. "This is a victory for everyone, a victory for the supporters who came to Indonesia and those who have always supported us back home," he remarked.

Despite the achievement, Cheng Hoe cautioned that the journey is far from over. "Our journey is still a long one, and we still need to build a better team in the future. Even though we have achieved this success, if we want to go further, we have to work even harder to make sure we remain on the right track," he concluded. The 1-0 victory over Vietnam, achieved through Fergus Tierney's 61st-minute goal, secured Malaysia's third-place position with an unbeaten record and four consecutive clean sheets.