KUALA LUMPUR – National football head coach Peter Cklamovski is focused on establishing a strong identity for Harimau Malaya by integrating more local players into the national squad.
The Australian tactician made the remarks following his side’s 1-1 draw against 72nd-ranked Cape Verde in a Tier 1 international friendly at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in Cheras yesterday.
The match also saw Cklamovski field nine local players in his starting eleven, signalling a reduced reliance on naturalised and heritage players.
Speaking to reporters during the post-match press conference, Cklamovski said he was pleased with his team’s performance, especially considering the limited time they had to prepare for the fixture.
“I’m on a mission to build an identity with local players in the squad, and we will continue this by introducing more of them,” he said.
“At the same time, for me, it doesn’t matter who I call up to represent the national team – whether local, naturalised or heritage. When they’re selected, they must give 100% for the country.
“I’m very happy that we managed to get a positive result against such a strong opponent, with just five to ten days of phased training following the Super League season.”
Cklamovski also praised Paulo Josué’s impact in the game, highlighting how the Brazilian-born forward made an immediate difference after coming off the bench.
Paulo, who was introduced in the 79th minute, equalised for Malaysia just a minute later with a superb volley from a Corbin Ong cross in the penalty box.
“His influence was immense, even though he played only 11 minutes plus stoppage time.
“He’s one of those rare players who doesn’t need many touches to make an impact but steps up when it truly matters,” Cklamovski added.
The 46-year-old coach also expressed disappointment over not securing a victory despite what he felt was a dominant performance.
“We actually deserved to win this match, as we were more aggressive in our gameplay.
“It’s disappointing, but we’ll take the positives, learn from this, and strive to improve in the days ahead.”
Meanwhile, Cape Verde head coach Pedro Leitão Brito expressed satisfaction with the result, considering that his squad included 12 debutants.
He also dismissed the relevance of world rankings in football, praising Malaysia for their fearless and high-quality display.
“I’m very happy with the match – it was a great opportunity for both teams. We had 12 players making their debut for the national team.
“Rankings don’t matter in football – anything can happen. Malaysia showed quality and played fearlessly to earn the draw.
“We’re grateful to FAM for the invitation and happy to have given Malaysia a competitive match experience as they prepare for an important qualifier.”
“It was also a good test for us tactically ahead of our friendly against Georgia on June 9,” said Pedro.
Malaysia is set to face Cape Verde again in a closed-door training match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 3.
These matches against Cape Verde are part of Harimau Malaya’s preparations for their second Group F match in the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Vietnam at the National Stadium on June 10. – May 30, 2025
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