From Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif
JAKARTA, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will face Vietnam without the services of captain Dion Cools and winger Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim in the ASEAN FIFA Cup 2026 third-place playoff match at the Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in Jakarta this coming Monday.
Interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe said Mohamad Faisal has returned home after the match against Singapore in Bandung last Thursday to seek further treatment for calf and tendon injuries he sustained when facing Indonesia last Monday.
Cheng Hoe added that Cools left the team camp after the clash with Singapore due to urgent family matters that needed to be resolved immediately.
"Following the match against Singapore the other day, Dion (Cools) is not with us for the upcoming match because he has family matters that need to be settled urgently.
"We respect Dion's decision and wish him the best. At the same time, we expect the other players to be ready for the match against Vietnam," he said when met during the team's training session here today.
Cheng Hoe acknowledged that Cools' absence will have an impact, especially in the defensive department, given that the player is not only a pillar of the national fortress but also plays a vital role as captain.
At the same time, Cheng Hoe confirmed that the newest naturalised striker Bergson Da Silva has cleared his two-yellow-card suspension and is eligible to play against Vietnam.
In another development, he said the players have begun to bounce back from the disappointment of failing to reach the final after Indonesia edged Malaysia on aggregate to emerge as Group A champions.
According to him, the atmosphere in the camp remains positive, with the heavy victory over Singapore also helping to restore the players' confidence ahead of their final match in the tournament.
"Indeed, at that time the whole team, including players and officials, were quite disappointed, but even though we did not qualify for the final, all team members remained positive and the atmosphere is quite good.
"We must maintain performance and consistency because team victory comes from teamwork and good fighting spirit. That is what we want in our effort to see Harimau Malaya bounce back," said the 58-year-old coach.
The ASEAN FIFA Cup 2026 final between Thailand and the host team is scheduled to take place at the GBK on Monday.
-- BERNAMA