FAM To Determine Friendlies After CAFA Cup Withdrawal – Dion Cools

PETALING JAYA, July 22 (Bernama) -- National football squad defender Dion Cools has left it up to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and team management to decide on Harimau Malaya’s involvement in any friendly matches this September.

He said the national squad still had room to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers scheduled for October and November.

This follows Harimau Malaya’s withdrawal from the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup 2025, which will take place in Tajikistan from Aug 29 to Sept 8.

“I think it’s bad news (withdrawing from the 2025 CAFA Cup), but at the same time the management has done its best. We have work to do for the Asian Cup qualifiers, and I think that’s the most important thing for us.

“September is the best time for us to prepare for October (the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Laos) because we want to go to Saudi Arabia (the 2027 Asian Cup finals) and I think the management will make the right decision, and we have to trust that they will make the right decision. I don’t want to panic about it, just stay with the team,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters at the launch of a special edition jersey created in collaboration with an international sportswear brand here today.

Previously, FAM had announced that Harimau Malaya's withdrawal was due to a change in match dates, with fixtures now starting outside the official international window set by FIFA, making it challenging for the national team, as clubs are not obliged to release their players.

-- BERNAMA