KUALA LUMPUR - Will the new head coach of the national football team Pau Marti Vicente be able to kick off a winning debut with the Harimau Malaya squad as his former 'boss', Kim Pan Gon did?
That question will be answered and Vicente's ability to guide a national team will be measured when Malaysia meet the Philippines in the semi-finals of Pestabola Merdeka 2024 at the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil here, tomorrow.
Coincidentally, Vicente and Pan Gon's first assignment in charge of Malaysia was against the Philippines.
Pan Gon, appointed in early 2022, guided Malaysia to defeat the Philippines 2-0 in the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) Tri-Country Series action in Singapore in March of that year.
The victory over the Philippines broke the scoreless tie between the two teams in the last four meetings since June 2012.
On paper, Vicente has a good chance of achieving a winning debut as tomorrow's match is seen in favour of Malaysia who are ranked better at 134 than the Philippines at 147, apart from the host factor.
The Philippines, nicknamed The Azkals, also received a major blow ahead of tomorrow's encounter after manager Tom Saintfiet resigned less than a week before the game.
Despite the turmoil that hit the Philippine squad, Vicente focused more on his team even though not many changes were made when 18 of the 26 players from the last Pan Gon squad last June were retained.
Among the eight new players who have returned to the list are JDT defender on loaned to Terengganu FC Muhammad Azam Azmi Murad and potential Selangor FC young defender Harith Haiqal Adam Afkar who will be joining senior players such as Dion Cools, La'vere Corbin-Ong, Matthew Davies and Muhamad Feroz Baharudin.
Also returning to strengthen the team in attack are JDT sensational winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi and his teammate Romel Morales, Sabah FC striker Darren Lok and Kedah Darul Aman FC striker Muhammad Syafiq Ahmad.
Based on Vicente's combination of players this time, it is likely that the young manager from Spain wants a balanced defensive and attacking ability, in addition to emphasising high game discipline thus producing a beautiful and effective game.
Another Pestabola Merdeka semi-final action tomorrow sees defending champions Tajikistan and Lebanon at the National Stadium while the final is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.
Vicente was previously an assistant to Pan Gon since 2022 and was appointed as head coach following the resignation of his former 'boss' in July.
The Spaniard who was an assistant coach for Barcelona B and the Barcelona U-19 squad, was given time until this December to prove his ability as a head coach while Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) looks for Pan Gon's replacement candidate.
Malaysia emerged as Merdeka Pestabola champion 12 times with the last time winning it in the 2013 edition. - BERNAMA