Pau Marti Vicente, head coach of the Malaysia national team, expressed that his players fully deserved to win the Pestabola Merdeka 2024 trophy.
Malaysia clinched the title after a 1-0 victory over Lebanon in the final at Bukit Jalil National Stadium, marking their first major win in 31 years as the main squad.
This triumph was particularly sweet for Pau Marti, as it came in only his second match in charge of the Malayan Tigers. Reflecting on the victory, he praised the team’s hard work and determination:
“All the players worked hard in this final, and today is a good day to celebrate our success in the Pestabola Merdeka 2024,” Pau said.
He emphasized how Malaysia started the match strongly, dominating against a well-defending and physically strong Lebanese side. Pau Marti also acknowledged the team’s ability to create opportunities in the second half, although they struggled to maintain the same level of control:
“We dominated the game and were fortunate to convert our chances. In the second half, we created opportunities through transitions. If we had managed to score one or two more goals, the match would have been different for us.”
Credit Photo : FAM
