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KUALA LUMPUR: The Harimau Malaya squad's 14-place drop in rankings to 135th in the world has been described as a huge blow to head coach Peter Cklamovski. However, the Australian coach stressed that his squad remained positive despite the controversy that has engulfed the Malaysian football arena, and believed that efforts to break into the world's top 100 were still on the right track. He said everything within the team's control had been implemented well, including training aspects, playing style and tactical analysis, while describing external obstacles as temporary challenges that needed to be overcome. "Of course, in the last 12 months, we've been on the right track. The way we train, the way we play, the way we analyse opponents, the way we evaluate games, and how we can continue to develop football has been implemented well. "Things off the field have affected us, it's just a temporary setback, but for me, every great story has a negative aspect, and we need to take it as a lesson," he said when met ahead of the final Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Vietnam here yesterday. Cklamovski said time would be the deciding factor in realising this wish after taking over Harimau Malaya in 2024. Yesterday, the International Football Federation (FIFA) released the latest rankings for Harimau Malaya, which fell 14 places to 135th in the world with 1,095.90 points. The significant drop was due to the heavy punishment imposed by FIFA following the issue of document forgery involving seven players with illegal heritage. Earlier, FIFA annulled the results of three friendly matches against Cape Verde, Singapore and Palestine by awarding a 0-3 free victory to the opposing team. The situation became worse when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also took similar action against two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers matches against Vietnam and Nepal, which also used the services of the players involved. The AFC's decision declaring Malaysia to have lost 0-3 in the match not only took away the country's ranking points, but also confirmed the failure of Harimau Malaya to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.

Harimau Malaya’s ranking falls, Cklamovski remains optimistic

KUALA LUMPUR — The Harimau Malaya squad’s 14-place drop in rankings to 135th in the world has been described as a huge blow to head coach Peter Cklamovski.

However, the Australian coach stressed that his squad remained positive despite the controversy that has engulfed the Malaysian football arena, and believed that efforts to break into the world’s top 100 were still on the right track.

He said everything within the team’s control had been implemented well, including training aspects, playing style and tactical analysis, while describing external obstacles as temporary challenges that needed to be overcome.

“Of course, in the last 12 months, we’ve been on the right track. The way we train, the way we play, the way we analyse opponents, the way we evaluate games, and how we can continue to develop football has been implemented well.

“Things off the field have affected us, it’s just a temporary setback, but for me, every great story has a negative aspect, and we need to take it as a lesson,” he said when met ahead of the final Group F match of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers against Vietnam here yesterday.

Cklamovski said time would be the deciding factor in realising this wish after taking over Harimau Malaya in 2024.

Yesterday, the International Football Federation (FIFA) released the latest rankings for Harimau Malaya, which fell 14 places to 135th in the world with 1,095.90 points.

The significant drop was due to the heavy punishment imposed by FIFA following the issue of document forgery involving seven players with illegal heritage.

Earlier, FIFA annulled the results of three friendly matches against Cape Verde, Singapore and Palestine by awarding a 0-3 free victory to the opposing team.

The situation became worse when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also took similar action against two 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers matches against Vietnam and Nepal, which also used the services of the players involved.

The AFC’s decision declaring Malaysia to have lost 0-3 in the match not only took away the country’s ranking points, but also confirmed the failure of Harimau Malaya to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.

— BERNAMA

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