KUALA LUMPUR: Sports analyst Datuk Richard Scully believes that national football players should think of those bronze soldiers with the raised Jalur Gemilang at the National Monument and be inspired when they represent Malaysia.
Richard felt that the players need to be honest and ask themselves whether they are willing to give everything for the nation when they compete in the Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, next month.
"The national team qualified on merit (for the Asian Cup) after 42 years. So, the hopes of 34 million Malaysians are riding on this.
"This is a matter of national pride and I see it like going to war, fighting for results. Are these players ready to give what is required for the nation?
"We go out to battle, we put our flag forward and only carry that one flag. Just like the National Monument, the soldiers aren't carrying their infantry's flag… it's the country's Jalur Gemilang they are raising.
"Whether it's naturalised, heritage or local players, the sentiments should be the same when it comes to national assignments, willing to take that bullet and 'die' for Malaysia. Put your heart into it because we are Malaysians."
Former national player Richard
said world No. 130 Malaysia are in for a tough time especially when they are grouped with Asian powerhouses South Korea (World No. 23), Bahrain (86) and Jordan (87).
"Realistically, it is a tough group. If we look at the rankings, we're up against two-time Asian Cup champions South Korea (1956, 1960) and we just reached world No. 130," said Richard.
The last time Malaysia played in the Asian Cup, they finished 16th of 16 teams in 2007. Malaysia had then qualified as co-hosts alongside Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. Iraq beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final.