National Team Coaches Peter Cklamovski and Nafuzi Zain Step Down

Peter Cklamovski and Nafuzi Zain have officially parted ways with the Malaysian national football setup, stepping down as head coaches of the senior team and the Under-23 squad, respectively, according to announcements made on Wednesday.

Cklamovski, who led the Harimau Malaya senior team, expressed his gratitude through the Malaysia NT official page, stating that the time has come for him to take on a new challenge. "I would like to sincerely thank all involved for the support and now for understanding my decision that the time has come for me to take on a new challenge," he said in a statement.

Reflecting on his tenure, Cklamovski praised the dedication of his players and staff, emphasizing their shared goal of bringing honour to the nation. "Every training session, every match and every moment together was driven by the same objective to make Malaysia proud," he added. He also highlighted the potential of Malaysian football, stressing the importance of protecting its culture and making decisions guided by what is best for the game and the players.

Nafuzi Zain, meanwhile, described his departure from the Under-23 team as a difficult decision. He thanked the management, support staff, and players for their unwavering support and remained optimistic about the future of the young Harimau Malaya squad, calling the players the nation's most valuable assets.

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) confirmed that the contracts of Cklamovski and two senior squad technical staff members, Matthew Smith and Seiya Imazaki, were terminated by mutual agreement effective June 16. Nafuzi's contract, along with that of goalkeeper coach Mohd Yazid Mohd Yassin, was also terminated by mutual agreement effective June 15. Previously, FAM had announced the termination of national team chief executive officer Rob Friend's contract, effective June 1.

FAM stated that further developments regarding the national team management will be announced in due course.