Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has revealed the progress of the Malaysian national team’s training camp for the friendly match against New Zealand on October 14. They will not have Buriram United defender Dion Cools due to family obligations in Belgium.
Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has provided an update on the Malaysian national football team’s preparations for their highly anticipated international friendly match against New Zealand on October 14, 2024. The match, set to take place at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, presents a valuable opportunity for Malaysia to test their mettle against a higher-ranked opponent, with New Zealand currently ranked 95th in the world.
One significant setback for the Harimau Malaya squad is the absence of key defender Dion Cools, who plays for Buriram United in Thailand. Cools, who has been a crucial player for Malaysia’s defense, will be unavailable for the match due to family obligations in Belgium.
In addition, FAM initially explored scheduling friendly matches with eight teams from the Oceania region, including the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. However, these nations are occupied with their 2026 World Cup Qualifying commitments, with matches scheduled on October 10, 11, and 12. As a result, Malaysia had to settle for a single friendly against New Zealand.
The Harimau Malaya squad will depart for Auckland on October 6, with their arrival planned for Monday, giving them a full week of centralized training in New Zealand. This extended preparation period is seen as a crucial opportunity to build team cohesion, fine-tune tactics, and adapt to New Zealand’s playing conditions.
In addition to the friendly against New Zealand, Malaysia will also face a top New Zealand club team in a Tier 2 International Match on October 11, further sharpening their readiness for the October 14 clash. This additional match will provide valuable match practice and allow to test different player combinations and strategies.
Malaysia will travel with 26 players for the New Zealand camp, instead of the 27 originally selected due to Dion Cools’ absence. Despite this, the squad remains strong, featuring the core of the team that triumphed in the 2024 Merdeka Tournament, alongside promising young talents such as Haziq Aiman (JDT II) and Haykal Danish (Selangor FC II).
Credit Photo : Simon Yap/SNE-Photo
