KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Newly-minted national football team head coach Pau Martí Vicente has expressed his hopes that Ultras Malaya, the passionate supporters’ group, will reconsider its decision to boycott the upcoming 2024 Merdeka Tournament starting next week.
The Spaniard emphasised the importance of fan support, saying he wishes all fans to unite and back Harimau Malaya during this crucial tournament.
Vicente also made it clear that despite the potential absence of Ultras Malaya, the team remains focused on their primary goal to deliver their best performance, thus making those who did not attend the match regret missing it.
“I think of course I want Ultras Malaya to come and want everybody to come, I do not like to be in a situation where people are not willing to come and support the team and I would like everyone to come.
“But we are a football team and we will play football, so the only thing we can do is to prepare well and to play the best football possible and to make the ones who didn't come regret missing the game,” he said during the national team’s training session at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.
Malaysia will face the Philippines in the semi-final of the 2024 Merdeka Tournament at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, on Wednesday (September 4), which will be Vicente's debut as the team's coach following his appointment, which came after the sudden resignation of former coach Kim Pan Gon last month.
Another semi-final of the 2024 Merdeka Tournament will see defending champions Tajikistan face Lebanon, also on Wednesday at the same venue.
The Ultras Malaya group’s planned boycott stems from dissatisfaction with various aspects including perceived issues with the management of the national team, the shortcomings within FAM, and issues in the Malaysian League competition.
Meanwhile, winger Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim, who is recovering from an acid attack in May, sees the boycott as something detrimental.
"I think the national team needs support, in the current situation a lot of things have happened recently, coach Kim left us, and now we have coach Pau (Vicente) we need to support him, we need to support FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) especially (FAM president) Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
"Of course, the players will carry out their responsibilities as usual, whether the fans come or not as players we have to play, InsyaAllah, I will probably come down to watch (at the stadium)," said the 26-year-old, who is struggling to achieve optimal performance to get back in the national team.
In the meantime, Hamidin said this is the time for all supporters to support the national team which is on a mission to gain as many ranking points and try to win a championship.
"I call on the Ultras Malaya who we know is a staunch supporter of Harimau Malaya, this is the time to support the Malaysian team because we have to improve our ranking so that we can win the Pestabola Merdeka 2024," he said.
— Bernama
