Tan Cheng Hoe Says His Decision To Resign From The Malaysian National Team For The Good Of The Malayan Tigers

Tan Cheng Hoe (Photo: Malaysian FA)

JAKARTA - Former Malaysia coach, Tan Cheng Hoe revealed his reasons for choosing to leave the team after failing in the 2020 AFF Cup. Cheng Hoe said the decision was made for the good of the team.

"I decided (to resign) for the good of football, especially the national team. I don't feel like I was made a scapegoat," he said as quoted by Berita Harian on Tuesday, January 4.

Previously, it was known that Malaysia could only reach the group stage in the 2020 AFF Cup competition. Joining Group B, Harimau Malaya failed to qualify for the semifinals after being defeated by the Indonesian national team 1-4 in the final match.

Furthermore, Cheng Hoe also said that the results in the group stage were indeed quite influential on his decision. Because, he feels he has not been able to complete the challenge with good results.

"I take that (target in the AFF Cup) as a challenge because as coaches we really want to aim for something and if I fail, that's why I resign."

Before Chen Hoe revealed the reason for his resignation, the Malaysian Football Association (FAM) had already announced the coach's resignation via their official website on Monday, January 3.

In the notification letter, FAM stated that they had held talks with Cheng Hoe, but in the end they chose to respect the coach's decision.

"Cheng Hoe has communicated with the management of FAM and expressed his desire after the failure of his squad to advance to the semifinals of the 2020 AFF Cup in Singapore, recently," FAM wrote on its official website.

Cheng Hoe himself has been trusted to handle the Malaysian national team since December 17, 2017. During his service, Cheng Hoe also won the 2009 SEA Games gold medal and won the 2010 AFF Cup even though at that time his position was still an assistant coach to Datuk K. Rajagobal.

Photo: Twitter.com/@FAM_Malaysia