Tan Cheng Hoe "A victory for everyone"
Malaysia head coach Tan Cheng Hoe reflected on a landmark afternoon for Harimau Malaya following their 1-0 victory over Vietnam in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place playoff, speaking warmly about the squad's togetherness while remaining notably measured on his own future with the national team.
Cheng Hoe opened his remarks by expressing gratitude to Malaysian football's most prominent patron. "First of all, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude for His Royal Highness, the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, for his support, for his guidance for the team. It means a lot to us," he said, extending thanks on behalf of the players to His Royal Highness as well.
The head coach also acknowledged support from the nation's top office ahead of kickoff. "Of course, we don't forget our Prime Minister's wishes before the kick-off — we would like to thank the Prime Minister for his support."
Turning to the match itself, Cheng Hoe praised his players' commitment across a demanding tournament schedule, acknowledging the physical toll of four matches in quick succession. "A big congratulations for the players for their commitment for this afternoon's game. We knew that playing four matches, very tough matches, that we might suffer a little bit of tiredness," he said. "Of course, mentally, the strength of the team — they work together, they fight together. That is a good opportunity for us to get a good result, to beat Vietnam after more than 10 years. I'm very happy of this. But of course, as a coach, we have to continue progressing to be playing much better and better."
Asked to reflect further on the team's achievement, Cheng Hoe highlighted Malaysia's remarkable defensive record across the tournament. "A great achievement for the team — we scored 10, we didn't concede any goal. That is one of the best statistics," he said. "Of course, football sometimes is not by statistics, because we are working together very, very hard. These players really work day and night, focus. And because the mentality of our players really plays a very important part."
He continued, crediting the squad's resilience across a condensed schedule. "Although in a short period of time, play four matches, tough matches, as a coach I feel very pleased with the performance. Each and everyone give their best, never give up attitude. This is the way we want to improve our team. We stick together, we fight together, we enjoy together. And of course, we need to progress in the future also."
Reflecting on Malaysia's near-miss in reaching the tournament final, Cheng Hoe offered gracious words for the two sides contesting the title. "As a coach, we really miss the final. I hope both teams, the best team win with a good atmosphere. I'm sure both teams have the motivation to play this kind of atmosphere. I wish both teams all the best, and may the best team win."
Asked what he viewed as the most positive aspect of the day's result, Cheng Hoe pointed to the squad's togetherness both on and off the pitch. "The team's success comes from the spirit of playing as a team, as a family that wants to win. You can see the environment, the bonding among the players. We really enjoy — we really focus not only on the pitch, but at the same time off the field as well, as a family with big dreams."
He framed the victory as a shared achievement extending beyond the playing squad. "This is a victory for everyone — a victory for the fans who come to Malaysia or who always support us from our homeland. And of course, we still have a long way to go. We still need to form a better team in the future. Even though we got the job done, for us to go further, we need to work harder, to make sure we're at the best level one day."
On the subject of his own position as interim head coach moving forward, Cheng Hoe was measured, deferring the decision to the game's governing body. "Of course, my position is up to the FAM. Because as long as I can, I will give my all to the national team."
Pressed further on his assessment of the tournament performance, Cheng Hoe emphasized that pride in the achievement should be matched by continued hard work given the uncertainty ahead. "Our team set a new record — it was a close run, four matches, 10 goals. We didn't break any overall records, but we need to be proud of our achievements. But we need to work harder, because we don't know what's ahead of us. We need to be ready from now on."
He pointed to squad unity as the defining feature of the campaign. "We can see that the team has a strong bond. We respect each other, whether it's a star player or an experienced player — we help each other, we remind each other. This is the secret of the job." Cheng Hoe also extended credit to his backroom staff. "I have to thank the coaching staff — they're working day and night to make sure everything goes smoothly, because there's a big challenge ahead of us. We need to work hard. I'm sure that one day, we will be on a better level."
Credit Photo.: FAM
