Coach Cklamovski disappointed as Malaysia loses to Vietnam team

Coach Peter Cklamovski "lost everything" despite not losing any match to Malaysia before rematching Vietnam team.

Key naturalized players were stripped from him, points were deducted, and the top position in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers was also taken away.

Peter Cklamovski's Asian Cup dream ended just before the qualifiers concluded.

After FIFA suspended seven naturalized players for one year due to forged documents related to eligibility for national team play, this led to AFC awarding losses in Malaysia's matches against Nepal and Vietnam.

"Any funds we had had to be used to pay fines, FAM was also penalized by FIFA and AFC and then had to start from zero," Cklamovski said.

Facing this "storm," the Australian coach is determined to revive and rebuild Malaysian football.

"We must think about domestic development, young players, and building a proper foundation," he said.

Looking back at the journey, Coach Cklamovski arrived in Malaysia in December 2024 and quickly built a reputation through tactical ability, helping the Malaysia team play qualifiers and friendlies without losing.

Fans supported him, experts praised Coach Peter Cklamovski's methods, and there was hope that Malaysia finally found stability on the field.

But within less than a year, everything collapsed, not due to poor performance but due to off-field issues.

The incident began in August 2025 when it was revealed Malaysia used seven ineligible naturalized players: Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Jon Irazabal, Hector Hevel, Facundo Garces, Gabriel Palmero, Imanol Machuca.

Before FIFA's ruling, Cklamovski achieved: 6 wins, 2 draws, 80% win rate, one of the best starts for a Malaysia coach recently.

Comparison with other coaches: Kim Pan Gon: 63%, Tan Cheng Hoe: 53%, K. Rajagobal: 32%, Ong Kim Swee: 40%.

Once seen as the "hero" who could elevate Malaysia to new heights, now Cklamovski's reputation and achievements are overshadowed by uncontrollable factors.

Meanwhile, Malaysian football legend Jamal Nasir said the Malaysia team must accept reality when facing Vietnam team on March 31.

"Just go out and play the match. Enjoy the game. There's nothing left to fight for. We must start over and focus on local players.

Cannot continue relying on naturalized players. We have spent too much already. Fans must be the priority, both in engagement and rebuilding trust."

Malaysian football experts criticized poor preparation by the country's Football Association, saying last-minute overseas training camps were wasteful.

The Malaysia team is scheduled to depart for Bangkok on March 24 for training before continuing to Vietnam.