SEA GAMES: HAQIMI AZIM TO REJOIN HARIMAU MUDA SQUAD AS THAILAND SEMIS CHALLENGE AWAITS

By Ahmad Nazrin Syahmi Mohamad Arif

BANGKOK, Dec 13 (Bernama) -- Forward Muhammad Haqimi Azim Rosli is set to rejoin the national Under-23 (U-23) squad ahead of the men’s football semifinal clash against the hosts at the Thailand SEA Games 2025 here on Monday.

National head coach Mohd Nafuzi Zain said Muhammad Haqimi, who was granted leave to attend the funeral of his stepfather Shahrol Asikin Mohd Shariff on Tuesday, is scheduled report back this afternoon.

“He (Muhammad Haqimi) has just gone through a difficult period, but he himself informed us that if the team qualified for the semifinals, he would return.

“We really need him as well because we have several players sidelined by injuries, so we are counting on him as he is the only striker we have,” he told reporters at the team hotel here today.

Muhammad Haqimi, who scored once in Malaysia’s 4-1 win over Laos in their opening Group B match last Saturday, had to return home and subsequently missed the second group match against Vietnam, which saw Malaysia lose 0-2 last Thursday.

At the same time, Mohd Nafuzi said Sabah FC striker Fergus Tierney will also be unavailable for the semifinal against Thailand due to the FA Cup final between Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and Sabah scheduled for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Mohd Nafuzi said the Harimau Muda squad are ready to face Thailand in their mission to book a place in the final and challenge for the gold medal.

He was confident that his players, who have achieved their initial target of progressing past the group stage, are capable of pulling off a surprise despite Thailand enjoying home-ground advantage.

“In terms of play and individual quality, Thailand are a strong team, but qualifying for the semifinals has somewhat changed the situation and I believe the players’ motivation and performance levels are strong,” he said.

The other semifinal will see Vietnam take on the Philippines.

Meanwhile, defender Ahmad Aysar Hadi Mohd Shapri urged his teammates to maintain full focus and not show too much respect to the opponents on the pitch. 

“There will definitely be a large crowd (of Thai fans) at the stadium. There’s no need to be nervous. We just need to play the way we should, put full focus and maintain composure. 

“I hope all players stay focused on the target, which is to win the gold medal,” he said.

Malaysia were eliminated at the group stage in the 2023 edition in Cambodia and lost the bronze-medal playoff at the 2021 Games in Hanoi.

Malaysia last won a medal at the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, taking silver.

-- BERNAMA