Harimau Malaya Membuka Tirai Pestabola Merdeka 1993
Pestabola Merdeka 1993 menyaksikan Malaysia muncul juara buat kali ke-10. Kali terakhir pasukan kebangsaan mara ke pusingan akhir dan menang adalah tujuh tahun sebelumnya pada 1986, di mana mereka mengalahkan Czechoslovakia XI 3–0.
Pada masa itu, Pestabola Merdeka yang memasuki edisi ke-34 dikatakan semakin hilang sinar dan popularitinya sebagai kejohanan bola sepak jemputan tertua di Asia. Pertandingan itu juga telah dipindahkan ke bulan Februari untuk muat ke dalam kalendar FIFA yang semakin padat. Namun, ia tetap sebuah kejohanan yang berprestij kerana sinonim dengan kemerdekaan Malaysia dan sangat bermakna bagi peserta dan peminat.
Harimau Malaya berada dalam proses membina semula ketika itu dengan pimpinan Ken Worden dari Australia selaku ketua jurulatih dan Datuk K. Rajagobal sebagai pembantunya. Cabaran Pestabola Merdeka merupakan peluang bagi pasukan kebangsaan untuk lahir semula di tanah air sendiri.
Malaysia diundi dalam Kumpulan A bersama CSKA Sofia, Thailand dan Singapura manakala Kumpulan B terdiri daripada FC Aarau, Korea Selatan B, Ghana dan Indonesia.
Perlawanan pembukaan pada 5 Februari menyaksikan Malaysia menentang negara jiran, Singapura. Penyokong tuan rumah mengharapkan kemenangan selepas pertemuan terakhir di Piala Merlion 1992, di mana Malaysia tewas kepada Singapura 3–0.
Pada awalnya, Harimau Malaya ketinggalan satu goal apabila The Lions mendahului perlawanan menerusi jaringan V. Sundramoorthy pada minit ke-41. Walau bagaimanapun, bintang-bintang Pahang, Mubin Mokhtar dan Dollah Salleh, berjaya menghasilkan dua gol pada separuh masa kedua, dalam minit ke-59 dan ke-64.
Dalam perlawanan menentang Thailand, Dollah Salleh menjaringkan gol sekali lagi untuk menyamakan kedudukan mereka setelah rembatan awal daripada pasukan lawan pada minit ke-5. Selepas itu, Malaysia hanya perlu seri dengan CSKA Sofia untuk kedua-dua pasukan layak ke pusingan separuh akhir. Misi mereka berjaya setelah seri tanpa jaringan. Pasukan Bulgaria tersebut akhirnya berada di kedudukan pertama Kumpulan A, meletakkan Malaysia di tempat kedua.
Malaysia mara ke perlawanan separuh akhir Pestabola Merdeka buat kali pertama sejak 1987.
Harimau Malaya: Khairul Azman, A, Jayakanthan, K. Gunalan, See Kim Seng, P. Maniam, Ahmad Yusof (kapten), Mubin Mokhtar, Abdul Malek Rahman, Azizol Abu Haniffah, Dollah Salleh, Azman Adnan, A. Elanggoven, Lim Kin Hong, R. Ragunathan, Shahrin Majid, Ismail Ibrahim
//
Harimau Malaya Kicks Off the 1993 Merdeka Tournament
The 1993 Merdeka Tournament saw Malaysia emerging as champions for the 10th time. The last time the national team made it to the final round and won was seven years earlier in 1986, where they defeated Czechoslovakia XI 3–0.
In its 34th year, the Merdeka Tournament was said to be losing its glamour and popularity as the oldest invitational football tournament in Asia. The tournament was even moved up to February due to FIFA’s ever growing calendar. However, it remains prestigious for being synonymous with Malaysia’s independence and held great significance to teams and fans alike.
Harimau Malaya were in the process of rebuilding with Ken Worden from Australia taking the helm as head coach, assisted by Datuk K. Rajagobal. It was their chance of rebirth on home soil.
Malaysia were drawn into Group A with CSKA Sofia, Thailand and Singapore while Group B consisted of Aarau FC, South Korea B, Ghana and Indonesia.
The opening match on February 5 saw Malaysia going up against neighbouring country Singapore. Malaysian supporters were hoping for a win after their last encounter at the 1992 Merlion Cup, where Malaysia lost 3–0 to Singapore.
Harimau Malaya were a goal down as the Lions took the lead through a goal by V. Sundramoorthy in the 41st minute. However, Pahang stars Mubin Mokhtar and Dollah Salleh managed to deliver two goals in the second half, in the 59th and 64th minute respectively.
In their match against Thailand, Dollah Salleh scored once again to level out the score as their opponents secured a very early shot in the 5th minute. Malaysia only needed to draw against CSKA Sofia for both teams to advance to the semi-finals and they did just that, leaving their last group match scoreless. The Bulgarian team topped the leaderboard with two wins under their belt, placing Malaysia second.
Malaysia were off to the Merdeka Tournament semifinals for the first time since 1987.
Harimau Malaya: Khairul Azman, A, Jayakanthan, K. Gunalan, See Kim Seng, P. Maniam, Ahmad Yusof (Captain), Mubin Mokhtar, Abdul Malek Rahman, Azizol Abu Haniffah, Dollah Salleh, Azman Adnan, A. Elanggoven, Lim Kin Hong, R. Ragunathan, Shahrin Majid, Ismail Ibrahim
