Tunku Ismail fires up Harimau with pre-match speech
KUALA LUMPUR: The fiery words from the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, were a key factor in Harimau Malaya's 4-0 thrashing of Vietnam in an Asian Cup qualifier at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, last night.
The national team through their official Facebook page, Malaysia NT, shared a video from the dressing room showing Tunku Ismail deliver a spirited speech to the players before their match.
In the one-minute and 26-second video, Tunku Ismail, who also owns the Johor Darul Ta'zim club, told the players that the national team's struggle is a mission to elevate the country's football.
"Remember, there are some who don't believe. That's okay, we are doing something new. Let them be, what you are doing is more important than what they think.
"The time has come for us to show who we really are. If we change football in our homeland, it will be because of you, not anyone else, you are the heroes.
"We want them to believe, and one way they can believe is when we show character, a fighting spirit, this is our home," said Tunku Ismail.
Following Tunku Ismail's inspirational speech, Malaysia blasted Southeast Asia big guns Vietnam to end an 11-year winless streak against them.
Malaysia now top Group F with six points, three more than Vietnam and Laos, while win-less Nepal are bottom.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
JDT prep for M-League with La Liga action
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) will play newly promoted La Liga side, Levante UD, in a friendly in Spain next month. Under new head coach Xisco Munoz, the Malaysian champions will do their pre-season training abroad. "More friendly matches in Spain will be announced soon. Levante won the Segunda Division in the 2024-25 season to earn promotion to the Spanish top flight," JDT said on social media on Friday. Among the Levante stars is 21-year-old attacking midfielder Carlos Alvarez, who chalked up seven goals and 11 assists last season. His meteoric rise saw him sign a new deal with a release clause of €25 million (RM127 million). JDT, who aim to be an Asian power, plan to arrange for more matches in Spain, apart from training there.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
AFC moves Women's Asian Cup qualifiers from Jordan to Qatar
WOMEN'S Asian Cup qualifiers originally starting next week in Jordan have been moved to Qatar because of the 'ongoing situation' in the Middle East, football officials said Friday. Tensions have escalated in the region after Israel and Iran intensified air strikes against each other, with the conflict risking the involvement of the United States. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said that matches in qualifying Group A scheduled June 23-July 5 in the Jordanian capital Amman have been moved to Qatar and will now take place July 7-19. 'More details on the venue and match timings will be confirmed in due course,' the AFC said in a statement. Jordan, Singapore, Iran, Lebanon and Bhutan are in Group A qualifying for the Women's Asian Cup in Australia in March 2026. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said separately that the move was due to the 'ongoing situation in the region and logistical concerns raised by' the participating teams. There are eight qualifying groups with the winner of each booking a spot at the 2026 showpiece. Hosts Australia, South Korea, Japan and holders China are already sure of their places.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Women's Asian Cup qualifiers moved to Qatar amid Israel-Iran war
WOMEN'S Asian Cup qualifiers originally starting next week in Jordan have been moved to Qatar because of the 'ongoing situation' in the Middle East, football officials said Friday. Tensions have escalated in the region after Israel and Iran intensified air strikes against each other, with the conflict risking the involvement of the United States. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said that matches in qualifying Group A scheduled June 23-July 5 in the Jordanian capital Amman have been moved to Qatar and will now take place July 7-19. 'More details on the venue and match timings will be confirmed in due course,' the AFC said in a statement. Jordan, Singapore, Iran, Lebanon and Bhutan are in Group A qualifying for the Women's Asian Cup in Australia in March 2026. The Football Association of Singapore (FAS) said separately that the move was due to the 'ongoing situation in the region and logistical concerns raised by' the participating teams. There are eight qualifying groups with the winner of each booking a spot at the 2026 showpiece.
