Lend me your ears: Malaysia coach Pau Marti Vicente instructing his players during training. — FAM
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s closed-door friendly game against Auckland FC is needed to test the younger players in the Harimau Malaya team.
Head coach Pau Marti Vicente will be assessing youngsters like goalkeepers Haziq Aiman Esa, Azim Al-Amin, centreback Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar, winger Haykal Danish Mohd Haizon, and striker Haqimi Azim Rosli against the A-League club team at the North Harbour Stadium in Auckland today.
The friendly will also prepare them for their match against New Zealand on Monday.
Vicente does not want the game against Auckland to be taken lightly.
“This friendly allows us to utilise all the 26 players in the squad and assess their performance. It will help us to test the different dynamics in the team,” said Vicente.
“It may not be a full-fledged international friendly, but Auckland are a top club, so the coaching side are happy to be part of the tier two friendly.
“In an official game, you cannot assess all the players, but with this game, we get to do more. We’re glad to get this kind of high-quality match in Auckland.”
Auckland are a new club in the expanded A-League, which will now have 13 teams playing in the 2024-2025 season.
Coached by Australian manager Steve Corica, the side known as the ‘’Black Knights’’ have some stellar names, including former Japanese international Hiroki Sakai, who is also the captain of the team.
The 34-year-old, who is a rightback, won 74 caps and earned a reputation for being a top defender in the Ligue 1 when he played for Olympique Marseille from 2016 to 2021.
They also have talented players like former New Zealand winger Joe Champness, Chilean midfielder Luis Felipe Gallegos and striker Max Mata.
