S2E67: Behind Cheng Hoe Ball

The national football team has been in the doldrums for a long time. While the defenders are quick to say that it has seen some form of improvement following the 10-0 drubbing by United Arab Emirates in 2015. But critics argue nothing has changed as the national team sits at 159 in the FIFA rankings, way behind Vietnam (96), Thailand (116), the Philippines (126) and Myanmar (138).

Former international turned coach Tan Cheng Hoe found himself in the hot seat after Nelo Vingada quit as national coach in 2017 due to a string of poor results. He led the team to the 2018 Asean Football Federation final where the Malaysian side lost 3-2 in the two-legged final.

In the recent World Cup Qualifiers against Timor-Leste, the national side managed a 12-2 aggregate in the two-legged affair. Coach Tan joins the program as we speak about the Malaysian football scene and his immediate plans to turn Harimau Malaya into deadly hunters.