Malaysia U-19 futsal head coach Rakphol Sainetngam chose pride over regret after his side were edged out by hosts Thailand on penalties, 7-8 (AET 4-4), in the semi-final of the ASEAN U19 Boys Futsal Championship 2025.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rakphol congratulated Thailand on reaching the final while paying heartfelt tribute to his young Malaysian squad, who pushed one of Asia’s strongest futsal nations to the limit.
“First of all, congratulations to Thailand for reaching the final. And I want to praise my players — they played well and gave everything today,” he said.
Rakphol admitted that defending against Thailand’s power-play system proved decisive, noting it was a scenario his players rarely encounter in domestic U-19 competitions in Malaysia.
“This was an experience we don’t often face. In our U-19 league, defending against power play doesn’t happen much. The players were excited, and of course it’s a bit disappointing — but they already did their best. I’m very proud of every single one of them.”
Despite the narrow defeat, the Thai coach insisted the team’s mission is not over, with Malaysia still eyeing a podium finish.
“This is the last match coming up, and no matter who we face, we must give everything. We want to bring something home as well.”
Rakphol revealed that his approach before facing Thailand was to remove pressure and focus on enjoyment, emotion and fighting spirit rather than fear of the opposition.
“I told my players — we can lose to Thailand, but we can also beat Thailand. No pressure. Just enjoy the game. I know our players are not at the same level as Thailand in terms of quality, but they must enjoy playing and fight.”
He added that emotional motivation played a key role in his team talk.
“I spoke to them about doing something special for Malaysian fans and their families — their mothers and fathers watching at home. I wanted them to play with heart. That’s why I’m so proud.”
Rakphol also highlighted the limited preparation time, revealing the squad only trained together for around two weeks, with just three days in Bangkok before the tournament began.
“Preparation was very short, but still they fought. We can lose, anything can happen, but spirit and fighting are non-negotiable.”
Looking ahead, Rakphol stressed the importance of exposure and experience for young Malaysian futsal players, while also issuing a clear call for stronger institutional support.
“Thailand and Vietnam are top-level teams in Asia, but Malaysia also has many talented players. They need more tournaments, more exposure. I hope the sports authorities and government can support the national team more in the future.”
He concluded with a powerful message ahead of the third-place playoff.
“We don’t need to say ‘sorry’. Today, we only say we are proud of these boys. Tomorrow, we train, we recover, we study Vietnam — and we fight again.”
Malaysia will face Vietnam in the third-place playoff, carrying renewed belief, invaluable experience, and the pride of a performance that won respect across the region.
Credit Photo : FAM
