End of National Team unit opens door for FAM reset, but Harimau Malaya faces new uncertainty

SHAH ALAM - The dissolution of Harimau Malaya’s National Team (NT) unit and the departures of head coach Peter Cklamovski and chief executive officer Rob Friend have paved the way for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to regain direct control of the national team.

However, the upheaval has also sparked questions regarding leadership, preparations and the team’s direction ahead of upcoming major tournaments.

Former Selangor manager Zakaria Rahim, a local football observer widely known as Zack Rahim, described the situation as a significant turning point for Malaysian football, noting it marks the end of a unique arrangement where the national team operated independently from FAM.

Zack said this was the first time Malaysia’s national football team had been managed through a dedicated NT unit, with figures such as Cklamovski and Friend serving under that structure rather than directly under the national body.

“The arrangement came under intense public scrutiny following the controversy surrounding fake Malaysian heritage players, which led to questions over those responsible for overseeing and managing the national team,” Zack said in an interview with Sinar Daily.

Zack pointed to remarks made by a FAM vice-president, who had previously served as acting president, stating that FAM had no involvement with the NT unit.

He added that the same official had also disclosed that since the NT unit assumed responsibility for the national team, Cklamovski had barred FAM officials from attending training sessions.

“These developments reinforced public perceptions that the national team was operating independently of FAM,” Zack said. “As a result, FAM’s announcement that it had mutually agreed to part ways with the NT leadership was not entirely unexpected among supporters.

“There has been a growing view among fans that the NT structure had gone in the wrong direction and needed to be corrected.”

Former Selangor manager Zakaria Rahim.

Zack noted that several individuals within FAM had resigned from their positions in recent months. Following the collapse of the NT setup, he said the association now has an opportunity to rebuild the national team structure directly under its own management, an objective many supporters had long called for.

However, he cautioned that the latest developments have introduced fresh uncertainties at a critical juncture for Malaysian football.

“Malaysia is scheduled to compete in the 2026 ASEAN Cup and the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, but the departure of the NT leadership and coaching staff has raised questions over who will be responsible for overseeing preparations,” Zack said.

The challenge is further compounded by tight time constraints, as national teams typically require at least two weeks to assemble players and prepare for a tournament.

“At the same time, the Malaysian Football League (MFL) season is expected to resume after the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup 2026, potentially creating scheduling and logistical complications,” Zack added. “The situation is made more challenging by the limited preparation window available.”

Another pressing issue concerns the appointment of a new head coach. Zack said FAM must now decide whether to pursue another foreign coach or appoint a local candidate.

While a local coach could serve as a short-term solution ahead of the ASEAN Cup, he believes that there is currently no obvious local candidate who is widely regarded as a strong long-term option for the national team.

“Given the immediate importance of the 2026 ASEAN Cup, finding the right leadership for Harimau Malaya has become the priority,” he said.

FAM Ends Contracts of Key NT Figures

Earlier today, FAM confirmed that it had mutually agreed to terminate the contracts of Cklamovski and Friend. According to the association, Friend’s contract ended on June 1, while Cklamovski’s contract was terminated two days ago.

The contracts of senior technical staff Matthew Smith and Seiya Imazaki were also terminated by mutual agreement on June 16.

“FAM respects the decisions made and extends its highest appreciation and gratitude for their contributions throughout their tenure with the national football squad. We are taking the necessary measures to fill the vacant positions,” the association said in a statement.

Both Friend and Cklamovski were appointed to their respective roles on Jan. 1.

The departures also come after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently recommended that management of the national team be placed directly under FAM following a governance audit.

AFC General-Secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul said earlier this month that the confederation had recommended a return to the previous structure.

“Return it to FAM. The National Team Committee should manage it, which means FAM must manage it, like before,” he said after FAM’s extraordinary congress on June 4.

Windsor explained that the recommendation was intended to ensure clearer governance and stronger accountability in the management of the national team.

Despite public debate surrounding the NT structure, FAM has maintained that Harimau Malaya has always remained under its authority.

“The Harimau Malaya team is always under the control of FAM, where all positions in the national team are appointments made by FAM,” the association said on its official X account.