KUALA LUMPUR – National futsal head coach Rakphol Sainetngam has urged his players to quickly shift their focus towards preparations for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup after completing the qualifying campaign with two wins and one defeat.
The national squad sealed their place in Jakarta after defeating the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 1-0 and Bangladesh 7-1, before falling 0-4 to defending Asian champions Iran at the SUKPA Indoor Stadium.
“The fighting spirit shown by the players in every match was commendable, and we proved that by securing victories over the UAE and Bangladesh. The only disappointment was the 0-4 loss to Iran,” he said when contacted.
Rakphol stressed that the defeat should not weigh too heavily on the team, as the players had already given their best against a far more experienced side.
“What matters now is that we achieved our main objective — qualifying for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup. The real challenge awaits in Jakarta, where we are expected to face much stronger teams,” he said.
Malaysia will be making their 13th appearance at the continental tournament — their first since 2018.
Rakphol said he would meet with the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) committee soon to discuss preparations for both the Asian Cup and the SEA Games in Bangkok this December.
The 53-year-old coach, whose contract expires later this year, added that his future would be decided after discussions with FAM.
“For now, I cannot comment on my contract,” he said.
Rakphol also expressed his gratitude to Malaysian fans who turned up in large numbers to support the team.
“Without the fans, the players would not have been able to give 1,000 per cent. It was not easy playing against Iran, but the players have already shown that we can compete against top-level teams,” he added.
Under the qualifying format, the eight group winners and the seven best runners-up will join hosts Indonesia in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Finals next January. – September 25, 2025