Tan Cheng Hoe praised Harimau Malaya’s fighting spirit after their 2-1 ASEAN Cup win over Myanmar despite fitness and teamwork concerns.
MALAYSIA interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe hailed his players’ determination and fighting spirit after they battled to a 2-1 victory over Myanmar in their opening 2026 ASEAN Cup Group B match despite not yet being at peak physical condition.
He said the winning start not only provided a timely confidence boost for the Harimau Malaya squad but also validated the progress they have made, with several players only recently returning from pre-season training and the team still working to build fitness, chemistry and mutual understanding.
“Of course the result really gives me confidence. The players really played well. We know we still have some weaknesses and we are still building our character as a team.
“Fitness-wise we were a bit worried because most of the players have just come back from pre-season training, but we always focus on one game at a time. I hope that in another one or two matches we will be ready in terms of teamwork, understanding and chemistry because those are very important,” he said in an audio shared by the Football Association Malaysia (FAM) today.
In the meantime Cheng Hoe also singled out Harimau Malaya’s captain Paulo Josue for his leadership, saying the experienced midfielder played a crucial role in guiding a squad that blends youth and experience.
“I am very happy that Paulo, as captain, leads the team very well. The mixture of young and experienced players really helps the team.
“The harmony and working environment within the squad give us the confidence that we can go far,” he added.
Meanwhile, Josue, who was named Man of the Match after scoring a brace during the match against Myanmar, expressed his pride in the team’s effort after securing all three points.
“I’m happy. Happy for the boys and proud of the boys. I think after only 10 days together, it’s not easy to understand everything that the coach wants from us.
“I think we had a very good first half. We conceded a goal, which of course wasn’t part of the plan but thank God we managed to come back in the second half. Overall, I think we played a good game and I’m really proud of the boys,”he said.
