Harimau Muda impacted by senior team criticisms but remain determined to succeed

KUALA LUMPUR – The myriad criticisms against the national football team following their dismal performance at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2020 in Singapore last month, has somehow impacted the national Under-23 team, also known as Harimau Muda.

In fact, coach Brad Maloney’s boys are now at risk of suffering the same fate if they fail to perform at the upcoming AFF U23 Championship 2022 and U23 Asia Cup. 

Terengganu FC 11 striker Muhammad Nur Azfar Fikri Azhar, for one, admitted that he was also affected by the various negative reactions and extreme criticisms thrown at the Harimau Malaya team on social media.

“We try to stay positive. When the supporters criticise us, we just respond with a victory. If we emerge as winners, there will be no criticism,” he said when met on the first day of the U23 squad centralised training camp at the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) Sports Complex here today.

 The 22-year-old player, however, hoped that the fans would also offer some positive words and morale boosters for the squad members rather than being too emotional in their comments.

Sharing a similar sentiment was Johor Darul Ta’zim striker, Muhamad Alif Abdul Mutalib, who described that all forms of extreme criticism would not bring any good to the players and the team.

“I view all this positively. We can only do our best to win every match. We hope our fans will continue to support us to gain victory,” he added.

Both the players are undergoing a centralised training camp to prepare the team for the AFF U23 Championship 2022 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from February 14 to 26. – Bernama, January 28, 2022