Stage set for Malaysia to make history

The Malaysian camp is confident. The Singapore team are just as relaxed.

The stakes are high in tonight’s return-leg of the Asian Zone World Cup second round qualifying match at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil (8.45pm kick-off).

Singapore hold the advantage, thanks to the 5-3 first-leg win at the Jalan Bandar Stadium last Saturday.

And yesterday, both teams declared that they were ready for tonight’s titanic clash.

National coach Datuk K. Rajagopal said his boys, who were already in high spirits despite losing the first-leg clash, received a further boost when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak sent his best wishes to the team yesterday.

Rajagobal said “it was a pleasant surprise when the Prime Minister spoke to me when we were on our way to the training session in the evening”.

“I conveyed his inspiring message to the team as well as his confidence in us to upset the Lions,” said Rajagopal, who will be attempting to write another new chapter in Malaysian football.

For the record, Malaysia began competing in the World Cup qualifying rounds in 1974 and, after 10 attempts, have never progressed beyond the second round.

So, can they finally end the 37-year curse?

Rajagopal is confident that they can. But will his lucky star shine again?

After all, he was the first local coach to win the SEA Games Under-23 football gold medal after a lapse of 20 years ( 2009 Laos SEA Games). Last year, he led the national team to win the Suzuki Cup AFF Championships for the first time since 1996.

With the National Stadium set to be filled to the brim with 90,000-odd vociferous Malaysian fans, it does look like Rajagopal’s men can overturn the two-goal deficit and qualify for the third round.

But then, Singapore are not in a compromising mood themselves, especially after their failure in the Suzuki Cup last year.

Like Singapore head coach Radojko Avramovic said: “The Lions will not be intimidated by the 90,000 fans who will be rooting for the Harimau Malaya tomorrow (today). We are ready to face the Malaysian national team and their fans.

“It will be an exciting match because both teams are capable of scoring goals.”

Even Singapore striker Fazrul Nawas was upbeat.

“There are no two ways about it. We won’t lose this two-goal cushion and we aim to make it to the next round,” he said at the pre-match press conference at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya yesterday.

Whatever the mood in the Singapore camp, Rajagopal prefers to focus on the team that he will be sending out to face the Lions.

The coach will be counting on striker Mohd Safee Sali to spearhead the charge for goals, with Abdul Hadi Yahaya for company upfront.

Pint-sized Ismail Faruqi will be put to the test in the engine room following the suspension on skipper Safiq Rahim. The midfield will also include Amar Rohidan and flankers S. Kunalan (left) and Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal (right).

The defence, which came under heavy fire after the loss in the first leg, should be bolstered by the return of Mohd Aidil Zafuan from injury.

Aidil was instrumental in the opening round of the qualifiers, scoring a goal in each leg to help Malaysia pip Taiwan on the away goals rule despite drawing 4-4 last month.

The other defenders set to start are Mohd Fadhli Shas, Mahalli Jasuli and Mohd Asraruddin Putra Omar.

There is also good news for Malaysian fans as goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat is set to make a comeback after a shoulder injury.

The stage is set for a cracking match. Go get them, boys!