Faisal Halim "We don't fear Indonesia's Crowd"

Malaysia forward Faisal Halim addressed Indonesian media ahead of Harimau Malaya's crucial FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 encounter against tournament hosts Indonesia, striking a defiant yet respectful tone as he called on the entire Malaysian public to rally behind the squad for what promises to be a defining Group A showdown.

Speaking on the eve of the match, Faisal confirmed the squad had completed their final training preparations ahead of the highly anticipated clash. "Today is genuinely our final preparation session ahead of facing Indonesia tomorrow night. We're hoping for a positive outcome from today's session and for tomorrow's match itself," he stated.

Asked to assess Malaysia's confidence levels heading into the contest, Faisal offered a grounded perspective on the unpredictable nature of the sport, refusing to make bold declarations of certainty. "In football, we can never say we're one hundred percent certain of winning or drawing. This is an 11-versus-11 football match. We need to prepare ourselves both physically and mentally to face Indonesia," he explained. "This won't be an easy match for me. All my teammates share the same desire to win tomorrow night's match."

The forward extended a heartfelt appeal to supporters back home, urging unified backing regardless of location. "I hope all Malaysians, whether in Malaysia or watching on television, can support the Malaysian team, provide encouragement, and offer prayers for our team as we compete tomorrow night."

When questioned about his assessment of Indonesia's current form, Faisal pointed to their recent performance against Singapore as clear evidence of the host nation's quality and tactical organization. "We saw Indonesia play against Singapore, they were so organized, their gameplay was so smooth. This is football, different games bring different challenges. Facing Malaysia will be a different kind of match altogether, our strengths differ, our qualities differ," he observed. "I hope all my teammates in the Harimau Malaya squad can provide the strongest possible competition for tomorrow night's match."

Reflecting on the significance of Malaysia's opening victory, Faisal acknowledged the challenges of returning to competitive action after an extended period without playing together as a unit, framing the Bangladesh result as a vital confidence booster. "Playing the first match wasn't actually that easy. It was our first match after not having trained together for quite some time. When we faced Bangladesh, we secured three positive points for the team," he said. "For me, that was an excellent result for the squad heading forward."

As an attacking player, Faisal was asked whether he had specifically studied Indonesia's defensive personnel ahead of the match, to which he emphasized a broader focus on self-preparation rather than individual opposition analysis. "As a player, I need to analyze the situation myself and prepare myself for what will be a fairly demanding match for me. Anything can happen within 90 minutes," he explained. "Positive results will come if we work hard and put in the effort."

Addressing concerns about Indonesia's notoriously passionate home support and potential provocation from the stands, Faisal delivered perhaps his most striking response of the interview, framing the hostile atmosphere as something to embrace rather than fear. "We don't need to worry or fear provocation from Indonesian supporters. What I hope is that all my teammates are prepared both physically and mentally. On the pitch, we're simply playing 11 against 11," he stated firmly. "We're the ones who control the outcome on the field, the supporters and fans can only provide energy and cheers. We consider Indonesian fans as our own supporters too, in a way, giving energy to our team."

When pressed to name a specific Indonesian player he anticipated facing the greatest challenge from, Faisal deliberately steered away from singling out any individual opponent, instead emphasizing a team-wide preparation philosophy. "We're not focused on any single player, we're focused on the entire team. The Malaysian squad is prepared to face Indonesia as a collective unit."

Credit Photo : FAM