KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blind footballers, known as Harimau Buta, are confident of reaching the final at the Asean Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
This will be the team's fifth appearance at the Asean Para Games after winning gold in Myanmar in 2013 and Singapore in 2015, bronze in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, and silver in Cambodia in 2023.
Coach Sunny Shalesh (main image, wearing white shoes) said the squad is slowly adapting to its surroundings after arriving in Thailand on Jan 15 and will face hosts Thailand in its opening match later today.
"Half of the team is made up of development players. The emergence of many new faces has injected fresh energy and healthy competition, while also helping to build a strong pipeline for the future," said Sunny, a former sighted goalkeeper with the national blind football team.
A blind football team consists of four legally blind outfield players and one sighted or partially sighted goalkeeper.
"I'm confident they can produce performances that bring home medals. Our target is to reach the final, and then see what happens," he said.
Sunny said the team has held several training sessions and the players are gradually getting used to the artificial turf.
"Our first match is against the hosts, and I expect that to be the toughest," he said.
"Some have dubbed us Harimau Buta. I do not see it as an insult. Buta or not, we are still harimau."
Despite playing Thailand, there will be no home crowd advantage as blind football matches are played in silence, with cheering allowed only during stoppages or after goals.
This is because the ball contains a bell or rattle to help players locate it and judge when to run or shoot.
There are also dedicated guide zones behind each goal where callers help attackers aim, while coaches direct play from the midfield area.
"I'm optimistic we can make the final. Thailand are ranked fifth in the world, but we have trained hard and do not fear them," said Sunny.
"We have always won a medal. I believe we can bring back at least a silver, but I'm hoping for the glitter of gold."
Basic rules of blind football
Five players per team, including a sighted or partially sighted goalkeeper.
Two halves of 20 minutes each, with a 10-minute halftime break.
No offside rule.
A maximum of five fouls per team per half; exceeding this results in a penalty kick.