Malaysia Eye Final As Thailand Vow Gold Push

By Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

BANGKOK, Dec 14 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will be aiming to book a place in the final when they face hosts Thailand in the men’s football semi-final of the SEA Games Thailand 2025 at the Rajamangala National Stadium, here tomorrow.

Head coach Mohd Nafuzi Zain described the clash as the most important match for Harimau Muda so far in the tournament, likening the semi-final to a “real final” given the high stakes involved.

He said the players are highly motivated and fully aware of the challenge posed by Thailand, stressing the importance of thorough preparation, discipline and respect for the opponents.

“Tomorrow is a very important match for us as a team and everyone is excited to play in this semi-final. For us, this feels like the real final of the tournament,” he told a pre-match press conference here.

Nafuzi acknowledged the quality within the Thai squad and coaching setup but expressed confidence in his players’ ability to execute their game plan.

“It is very difficult to play against Thailand. They have a very good coach and very good players, so we must prepare well and play the way we want to play. Whether the match lasts 90 or 120 minutes, we have to be ready,” he added.

Meanwhile, Thailand head coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul admitted that his team is under pressure as tournament hosts but insisted that the expectation is being channelled into determination as they pursue the gold medal.

He said the pressure mainly comes from the fans but the team’s focus remains firmly on winning the title.

“As the host nation, there is pressure but we want to turn that pressure into determination. Our goal is to win the gold medal and make the players and fans happy,” he said.

Malaysia were eliminated at the group stage at the 2023 edition in Cambodia after losing the bronze medal playoff at the 2021 edition in Hanoi.

The last time the national squad finished on the podium was when they won the silver medal at the 2017 edition in Kuala Lumpur.

Meanwhile, the other semi-final tomorrow will see Vietnam take on the Philippines.

-- BERNAMA