KUALA LUMPUR – Lebanon’s national football head coach Miodrag Radulovic is ready to take revenge on the defending Merdeka Tournament champions Tajikistan, after falling to them in the Asian Cup finals.
Known as the Cedars by their fans, the team, currently ranked 116th in the world, will take on their 103rd-ranked opponents in the curtain-raiser of the prestigious tournament at Bukit Jalil National Stadium later today.
Radulovic said that his coaching team will be experimenting with new tactics and testing some young players to overcome their opponents, who typically adopt a defensive approach.
“This tournament is highly beneficial for all four teams involved, particularly for my team. We will try out some new players and tactics during this tournament, and we will ensure that we start our campaign with a win.
“I respect all the participating teams because we are at a similar level in terms of FIFA rankings, and I also hope that none of our opponents, especially Tajikistan, will underestimate us.
“We aim to deliver a strong performance throughout the tournament. However, for tomorrow’s match, we are looking to avenge our previous defeat against Tajikistan,” said Radulovic at the pre-match press conference held at the National Stadium yesterday.
Meanwhile, Tajikistan’s head coach, Gela Shekiladze, is not concerned about defending the Merdeka Cup this time around.
The Georgian coach, who was appointed as the replacement for former coach Petar Segrt in February, said he is focused on building a strong team for the 2027 Asian Cup.
“The Merdeka Tournament features many strong opponents, and it’s beneficial for my players, especially the younger and newer ones.
“We have five new players in the team, and we want to build a team for the 2027 Asian Cup. The players need good competitive matches to develop.
“This tournament is a test for the players, and I believe they can perform well, just like last year when we won the tournament,” said Shekiladze, who served as an assistant coach to Segrt from 2022.
As of today, it has been reported that the Football Association of Malaysia has sold fewer than 1,000 tickets for the 43rd edition of the Merdeka tournament, which will kick off today and run until Sunday.
Aside from Lebanon and Tajikistan, the Philippines and home side Malaysia will also be vying for the coveted trophy. – September 4, 2024