KUALA LUMPUR – Peter Cklamovski has declined to speculate on his future as head coach of the Harimau Malaya, choosing instead to emphasise the team’s preparation for their crucial final 2027 Asian Cup qualifying match against Vietnam.
The Australian tactician’s position has come under the spotlight following Malaysia’s failure to reach the final round of the tournament and the fallout from a Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) scandal with FIFA, which saw seven players handed 12-month suspensions.
Despite the turbulence engulfing the national football body, Cklamovski appeared resolute, signalling his continued commitment to the team and his long-term vision of guiding Malaysia to the World Cup.
“From the moment I arrived, I have fallen in love with this country. Working with the players and coaching staff has been an immensely rewarding experience,” said Cklamovski at a press conference in Bukit Jalil today.
“We had a short-term plan to qualify for the Asian Cup and a long-term goal to see Malaysia compete on the World Cup stage. The recent setbacks off the pitch, related to document irregularities, do not change that vision.
“At this point, my focus isn’t on my future but on preparing the squad for the important matches ahead,” he added.
Malaysia will face Vietnam at the Thien Truong Stadium in Ninh Binh on March 31.
Vietnam have already secured their place in the Asian Cup finals with 15 points, while Malaysia, after having six points deducted due to fielding ineligible players against Nepal and Vietnam, will miss the tournament for the first time since the 2019 edition.
The last time Malaysia qualified for the Asian Cup on merit was in 2023, when Harimau Malaya, under former head coach Kim Pan-gon, earned a spot for the first time in 42 years.
Although Malaysia also appeared in the 2007 Asian Cup Finals, it was as a co-host alongside Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.
Prior to that, the nation’s last qualification on merit came in 1980 in Kuwait. – March 23, 2026