Malaysia U17 coach confident about 'revenge' against Vietnam in Southeast Asia final

On the eve of the 2026 Southeast Asia U17 Championship final, Malaysia U17 coach Shukor shared notable insights about his team's journey and the upcoming rematch with Vietnam U17 in the championship match.

Despite having to suffer a heavy defeat in the opening match against Vietnam U17 with a score of 0-4, the Malaysian strategist affirmed that his players have shown clear progress throughout the journey to reach the final match.

"The most interesting aspect of this team is how the players recovered after what happened in the opening match", the Malaysian coach said. "They became stronger after the heavy loss, then demonstrated resilience when facing the host Indonesia".

Not only emphasizing the mental factor, coach Shukor also revealed that many players in the team had their first international competitive experience precisely when facing Vietnam U17. According to him, this was a valuable experience that helped the entire team mature rapidly.

"Many people don't know that the opening match against Vietnam was actually the first international match for many players. I consider it a learning process. Overcoming a group with two strong opponents, Vietnam and Indonesia, is something to be cherished", Coach Shukor added.

Before the final match takes place, the head coach of Malaysia U17 particularly emphasized the requirement for competitive composure, while expecting his players to maintain their confidence to create a surprise.

"This is not easy, but the journey so far shows the players never give up, with a disciplined defensive line", Shukor further stated.

The 2026 Southeast Asia U17 Championship final between Vietnam U17 and Malaysia U17 will take place at 19:30 on April 24 at Gelora Delta Stadium.