Malaysia head coach Peter Cklamovski has emphasized focus, respect, and preparation as his side gears up to face Palestine in an International Tier 1 Friendly on September 8 at Sultan Ibrahim Stadium, Iskandar Puteri.
Speaking to the media, the Australian tactician reflected on Malaysia’s recent 2-1 victory over Singapore, highlighting both the positives and the lessons to be carried forward.
“We know that we created many good moments to score goals and showed we can be lethal in attack. At the same time, there are always areas to improve. The good thing is we learn while we win, and that’s a habit we want to keep building on,” said Cklamovski.
With just a short turnaround before meeting Palestine, Cklamovski revealed that the squad has been working on both recovery and tactical preparation.
“It’s a different opponent, a different style of game. We travelled yesterday, so recovery and preparation are key. We reviewed our performance against Singapore this morning and tonight we focus fully on Palestine. We’re ready for another tough match.”
When asked about Palestine’s difficult situation as a nation, Cklamovski was quick to underline his respect for the contest.
“It’s football, two really good teams playing to give their nations pride and excitement. We respect both countries, and that respect will be shown on the pitch.”
The coach also addressed the absence of star winger Faisal Halim, who did not travel with the team.
“We decided Faisal should not travel. His commitment has been excellent, but there are personal matters in his life and a minor knee issue. It was the right decision for him to focus on recovery and his next steps. He’s a true professional, an inspiration to the nation, and we support him 100%.”
Looking ahead, Cklamovski reinforced his process-driven philosophy, stressing that preparation is the foundation of results.
“There’s a process to winning — reviewing, learning, recovery, and training. Everyone hopes for victory, but it comes through preparation. We’ll go hard for 95 minutes to get the result the nation deserves.”
Credit Photo : FAM
