Malaysia ready for pro football at SAFF women’s international tournament in Taif

KUALA LUMPUR: Training is in full swing for the Malaysian women’s national football team ahead of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s tournament in Taif, players told Arab News, as they saw the competition as a major chance for international exposure. 

The Women’s International Friendly Tournament is part of Saudi Arabia’s plans to develop a quality national side and promote the game in the Kingdom. 

The competition’s first edition took place in Alkhobar in January. The second edition will take place in Taif on Sept. 18-30, featuring also Pakistan, Laos, Lebanon, and Bhutan.

The Malaysian team, Malayan Tigress, are being prepared by Jordanian football professional Soleen Al-Zoubi, who became their head coach in December last year. 

“I want the players to play beautiful football, play our style, and dominate the field. This is what I am looking for, to be honest, (for them) to perform well and to gain more experience, and to see the true level of our team against almost same-level teams,” Al-Zoubi told Arab News after the team started their official training sessions earlier this week. 

The SAFF tournament was for her an important opportunity for the team. 

The Malaysian women’s football team played their first international game at the Asian Women’s Football Championship in 1975, and their performance would fluctuate over the decades. Currently, they stand 89th in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking. 

“These kinds of matches and tournaments not only prepare the players for the game, but also on a professional level — how to deal with the press, how to deal with the opponents and the fans under pressure, how to play in a big stadium, and how (to) play in a high-performance environment,” the coach said. 

“(There