KUALA LUMPUR – Former national head coach Tan Cheng Hoe is back in the fold — this time, not on the touchline, but as the newly appointed technical director for Harimau Malaya.
While the shift from pitchside to a broader strategic role presents a challenge, Cheng Hoe views it as a timely opportunity to help shape the future of Malaysian football.
“From a coach’s perspective, this is a new challenge for me. I’ve always been on the pitch, but now I’m working from the outside. I’m excited about this project under the leadership of the Regent of Johor, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, and I thank him for giving me this opportunity,” said Cheng Hoe.
He was speaking when met at Wisma FAM today, shortly after Harimau Malaya head coach Peter Cklamovski announced a 38-man squad for centralised training ahead of upcoming Tier 1 international against Cape Verde and the crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam on June 10.
Having previously helmed Selangor and taken charge of Thai side Police Tero, Cheng Hoe brings with him both domestic and international experience. His immediate task will be to support Harimau Malaya’s charge in the qualifiers while laying the groundwork for long-term progress.
“My first target is to qualify for the Asian Cup. It’s a tall order because the group champions will advance to the next stage. For the long-term, we must start preparing for the 2030 World Cup squad. I’ll use my experience to help not just Harimau Malaya, but also the Under-23 and age-group teams,” he said.
Cheng Hoe has already begun discussions with Cklamovski on how best to develop the national team structure.
“We didn’t talk about the past. Every coach has their own philosophy, and I believe Peter can bring Malaysia to a different level. We saw glimpses of that in the match against Nepal. Now, we need everyone’s support to move forward.”
For Cheng Hoe, developing a pipeline of talent is essential — especially as Malaysia builds a squad capable of competing at the highest levels.
“There aren’t many Under-23 players with significant potential right now, but with this new revolution, I believe more will emerge. We need them to believe they can one day wear the national jersey,” he said.
He also expressed disappointment over the discontinuation of the MFL Cup, a key tournament for emerging players.
“It’s a loss to scrap the MFL Cup, but I understand FAM has other plans. We hope more tournaments and platforms will be introduced to unearth fresh talent.”
Still, he stressed that there is no shortcut to wearing the national colours.
“Young players must work hard to get into any squad’s first eleven. There’s no easy route. You need to work, believe in yourself, and never give up.” – May 15, 2025