Into The Garuda’s Nest: Cheng Hoe Fires Up Harimau Malaya For GBK Showdown

JAKARTA, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Harimau Malaya (Malaysian National Football team) interim head coach Tan Cheng Hoe wants his players to ‘ride the roar’ of Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) when they face hosts Indonesia in their FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 Division 1 Group A clash here on Monday.

Cheng Hoe expects a charged atmosphere with strong home support for the Garuda squad but believes the occasion should excite, not intimidate, his players.

The 58-year-old coach said Malaysia must embrace the stage, stay composed and focus on their own game in what is expected to be a high-intensity encounter.

“Playing against Indonesia at GBK really gives us confidence and excitement. I think the stadium will be full and our players really enjoy this kind of atmosphere.

“At the same time, we have to stay focused. We know playing against Indonesia is not going to be an easy game,” he told a post-match press conference after Malaysia’s 3-0 win over Bangladesh yesterday.

Cheng Hoe said yesterday's opening victory also gave Malaysia a timely confidence boost and positive momentum heading into the showdown with the hosts.

He said the coaching staff and players are ready for the challenge, although the short turnaround means recovery will be crucial before the next match.

With this in mind, he said Malaysia must build on the encouraging start while preparing for a tougher test against an Indonesia side also coming off a win.

“The first step is a good one because we won the opening game. It gives us confidence and good momentum. Definitely, the coaching staff and players are ready to compete against Indonesia and ready for the next game,” he said.

Cheng Hoe said the medical team will assess the players’ condition over the next two days before the coaching staff finalise their plans for Monday.

Malaysia opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Bangladesh, while Indonesia also began the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Singapore.

The last meeting between the two sides saw Indonesia claim a 4-1 victory in the group stage of the 2021 AFF Cup, while their most recent clash at GBK ended in a 3-2 win for Malaysia during the 2022 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup qualifying campaign in 2019.
-- BERNAMA