4/09/2025

SPORTS THURSDAY | SEPT 4, 2025

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Lee calls for cool heads ahead of Couseway Derby

H ARIMAU MALAYA head coach Peter Cklamovski (below) wants his men to play to their true level in their two interna tional friendlies against Singapore and Palestine. This is because the national team – due to logistical challenges and player unavailability – missed out on competing in the ongoing 2025 Central Asian Football Association (Cafa) Nations Cup in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan that features strong sides like Iran, Uzbekistan and Oman. As such, the Australian tactician sees these two friendlies as vital to the team’s continued growth and progress. “Singapore are a good team and we need to be at our best to get the result we want,” he told a pre-match press conference yes terday ahead of the friendly against The Lions at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. “Palestine are tough opponents as SINGAPORE interim head coach Gavin Lee (inset) has advised his men to control their emotions when they face Malaysia in a Tier 1 international friendly at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur today. Lee, who was appointed to the post in June fol lowing Tsutomu Ogura’s decision to step down, is aware that managing their emotions will be crucial for both players and staff in what is always a high stakes fixture due to the traditional rivalry between the two sides. “In terms of the emotions, naturally, like Saf (team captain Safuwan Baharudin) mentioned ear lier, when you play in the Causeway Derby, it’s never easy,” Lee told a pre-match press conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. “There’s a lot of tension, a lot of emotions, but something that we reference a lot in the team is about managing our thoughts, managing our emo tions. “When we get too emotional, we tend to forget about things that we need to do. We have very good players capable of performing at a very, very

the inclusion of more naturalised players alongside the familiar core of local talent. The 33-year-old defensive midfielder, who has vast experience in Causeway Derby clashes, said the Harimau Malaya remain consistent in their long term vision of raising the country’s footballing stan dards in the region. “I think what’s different now is that there are more naturalised players. There is still the core base of local players, the ones that we’ve seen over the last few years. “But I think the direction for them has always been the same – to try to be a better footballing country in Southeast Asia or Asia,” said the Selangor FC player, who is on loan with Lion City Sailors. After facing Malaysia, Singapore, who currently lead Group C in the third round of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers, will host India in their third group match on Oct 9. – Bernama

“It’s my first game. For me, it’s a big honour. I’m just like everyone else in the team. It’s the biggest honour you can have – every time you get to represent your country. We don’t take that responsibility lightly. “We recognise that we have a role to fulfil each time we’re out there on the pitch, and that won’t change (tomor row). “Every single game, we expect 100% from ourselves,” said the former BG Tampines Rovers FC head coach. Meanwhile, Safuwan believes that Malaysia’s squad has evolved since their last meeting in December, with

high level, but sometimes emotions get in the way. “So, ultimately, it’s how we’re going to regulate that. As a coach, the same applies to me. “I need to be able to put

those emotions aside so that I can watch the game as level headed as possible and pro vide whatever input I can to take them closer to success,”he added. Lee also described making

his coaching debut with Singapore as a “big honour” and acknowledged the heavy responsi bility that comes with it - especially since it’s a match against long-time rivals Malaysia.

Get your fangs out! Cklamovski challenges Harimau Malaya to show stripes against Singapore, Palestine

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said he expects a strong challenge from world No. 159 Singapore, who look to have developed a consistent playing style and should provide a valuable test for his team’s progress. “We respect them. They’ve got good players. I’m excited about the challenge awaiting us. They’ve been playing in a certain way for a year or two now, and I expect them to continue doing so. “I’m also looking forward to playing our brand of football and creating spaces and areas that we know we can hurt them from… and score some goals as well. It’s a good football challenge, a good football test … to help our growth as a team,” said the 46-year-old coach. National skipper Dion Cools, meanwhile, is eager to translate the experience gained from playing in Japan’s top-tier league into solid per formances for Harimau Malaya today and on Monday. The 29-year-old, who recently joined J League side Cerezo Osaka, believes that compet ing in one of Asia’s strongest leagues has given him an extra edge that will also benefit the coun try. “I think the Japanese League is one of the best in Asia. For me, to be able to compete there every week gives me an experience that, perhaps, some other players don’t have. I hope I can show it on the pitch and help the team,” he said.

well. They’re ranked in the top 100. It’ll be a dif ferent test and that’s great for us. Both games will enable us to develop, test and keep growing our game. “This international window, as well as every time we get together, is an opportu nity to keep improving our game

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and keep working hard to become the team we dream of being,” Cklamovski said. Malaysia are set to

renew their traditional rivalry with the Gavin Lee-coached Singapore – dubbed the Causeway Derby – today (9pm) before facing Palestine at the Sultan Ibrahim Stadium in Iskandar Puteri, Johor, on Monday. Cklamovski

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WORLD CUP

EUROPEAN QUALIFYING FIXTURES (kickoffs 2.45am unless stated): Tomorrow Group A: Slovakia vs Germany, Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland (12.01am) , Netherlands vs Poland Group J: Liechtenstein vs Belgium Saturday Group B: Slovenia vs Sweden, Switzerland vs Kosovo Group C: Greece vs Belarus, Denmark vs Scotland Group D: Iceland vs Azerbaijan, Ukraine vs France Group I: Moldova vs Israel, Italy vs Estonia Group K: Latvia vs Serbia (9pm) Group L: Montenegro vs Czech Rep, Faroe Islands vs Croatia Sunday Group E: Georgia vs Bulgaria (9pm) Group F: Armenia vs Portugal (12.01am) , Ireland vs Hungary Group H: San Marino vs Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria vs Cyprus Group K: England vs Andorra (12.01am) Group E: Georgia vs Turkey (12.01am) , Bulgaria vs Spain Group G: Lithuania vs Malta

In their last five meetings in all competitions, Malaysia have won once, drawn twice and lost twice to Singapore, with their most recent clash ending in a 0-0 draw in the 2024 Asean Cup group stage. – Bernama

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Nova out to break China’s mixed doubles mastery NATIONAL mixed doubles coach, Nova Widianto is determined to break China’s dominance in the mixed doubles event, thus elevating Malaysia as the world’s No. 1 power in the category. ment. At the moment they are still changing part ners. “But if we look at some of our pairs who have become champions for the International Challenge and International Series.

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However, Nova admitted that the dream is not an easy one, and that he needs to produce more world-class mixed doubles pairs if Malaysia wants to truly dominate the event. “For mixed doubles, China is still No. 1. Their strength depends a lot on the female players. But the success of Tang Jie-Ee Wei proves that they are not invincible. With hard work, we can challenge them,” he said when met in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Meanwhile, Nova said he aims to produce at least two more world-class mixed doubles pairs by the end of this year. He and his coaching staff are currently conduct ing a trial and error process to find the best combi nation that can be promoted to a higher level. “I have spoken to the junior and backup players and I want to see their performance in each tourna

“So hopefully by the end of this year we can pro duce partners like Chen Tang Jie- Toh Ee Wei and Hoo Pang Ron-Cheng Su Yin,” he said. Nova also admitted there will be high expecta tions on current worls champions Tang Jie- Ee Wei after their extraordinary achievement at the BWF World Championships in Paris last weekend. “The expectations will definitely be higher because they are now world champions, but with their ability and confidence, I hope they will win more titles,” he said. “They should have more confidence and be calmer because before, there were technical issues that they might not have been able to overcome. “Anyway, consistency is very important,” he said. – Bernama/Agencies

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