KLHC’s Ismail Abu (back) and Sapura’s Izwan Firdaus Ahmad Tajuddin fight for the ball during their MHL Premier league in Bukit Jalil, October 9, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic makes a return against Kei Nishikori of Japan during their semi-final match of the Malaysian Open ATP 250 championships in Bukit Jalil, October 1, 2011. Tipsarevic won 6-4, 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic celebrates after defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan during their semi-final match of the Malaysian Open ATP 250 championships in Bukit Jalil, October 1, 2011. Tipsarevic won 6-4, 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Cyprus’s Marcos Baghdatis makes a return to Viktor Troicki of Serbia during their semi-final match of the Malaysian Open ATP 250 championships in Bukit Jalil, October 1, 2011. Baghdatis won 6-3, 6-1. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Japan’s Kei Nishikori makes a return against Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic during their semi-final match of the Malaysian Open ATP 250 championships in Bukit Jalil, October 1, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Izzaq Faris Ramlan clashes with Japan’s Gotoku Sakai during their Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Malaysia’s Wan Zack Haikal Wan Nor battles for the ball with Japan’s Gotoku Sakai during their Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Malaysia’s Mahali Jasuli fights for the ball with Japan’s Gotoku Sakai during their Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Malaysia’s Mohamad Fandi Othman clashes with Japan’s Hiroshi Kiyotake during their Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Malaysia’s Izzaq Faris Ramlan clashes with Japan’s Hiroki Sakai (right) during their Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Malaysia’s K.Gurusamy battles for the ball with Japan’s Keigo Higashi during their Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Malaysian fans cheering during the Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Japanese fans cheering during the Asian Zone Olympic 2012 qualifying match at the Tosu Stadium in Fukuoka, Japan, September 21, 2012. GLENN GUAN/The Star (Fukuoka)

Wrong direction: Felda United skipper Kaironissam Sahabuddin (right) leaves Kelantan’s Norshahrul Idlan Talaha in his wake during the Malaysia Cup Group C match at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium, September 14, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Kelantan’s Azzamuddin Mohd Akil (left) and Felda United’s Mohd Syazwan Zainon battle for the ball during the Malaysia Cup Group C match at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium, September 14, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Kelantan’s captain Badhri Mohd Radzi (left) and Felda United’s Sivanesan Shanmugan tussle for the ball during the Malaysia Cup Group C match at the Selayang Municipal Council Stadium, September 14, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Determined display: Malaysia’s Muhamad Firhan (left) beats Japan’s Kazuhin Tsubouchi to the ball during their friendly match at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil, August 13, 2011. GLENN GUAN / The Star

Coming through: Malaysia’s Hafifihafiz Hanafi and Japan’s Yuta Fukushiro battling it out at the National Hockey Stadium, August 10, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Ahmad Fakri Saarani heads for the ball between two Singapore players during their second leg of the Asian Zone World Cup second round qualifying match against Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, July 28, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s goalkeeper Khairul Fahmi Che Mat is challenged by Singapore’s Qui Li during their second leg of the Asian Zone World Cup second round qualifying match against Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, July 28, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

In vain: Striker Saffee Sali (center) celebrates after putting Malaysia ahead against Singapore during the second leg of the Asian Zone World Cup second round qualifying match against Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, July 28, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Singapore’s Qui Li (center) is challenged by Malaysia’s S. Kunanlan and Amar Rohidan during their second leg of the Asian Zone World Cup second round qualifying match against Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, July 28, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Singapore’s Qui Li collides with Malaysia’s Mohamad Fadhli Mohd Shas and Amar Rohidan during their second leg of the Asian Zone World Cup second round qualifying match against Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, July 28, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Team Singapore celebrates with coach Radojko Avramovich after defeating Malaysia 1-1 in the second leg of the Asian Zone World Cup second round qualifying match against Singapore at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, July 28, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Chelsea’s Daniel Strurridge and Malaysia’s Mohd Zubir Mohd Azmi fight for the ball during their Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Chelsea’s Slobodan Rajkovic heads for the ball ahead of Malaysia’s Mohd Amri Yahya during their Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s Joseph Kalang Tie takes a fall after being tackled by Chelsea’s Frank Lampard during their Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 21, 2011. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Malaysia’s goalkeeper Mohd Izham Tarmizi saves the ball from scoring during their Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 21, 2011. However the linesman call the shot in. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Red tide: It was a carnival atmosphere at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil with Liverpool fans turning up as early as 10am to see the team play Malaysia, July 16, 2011. The 80,000-capacity stadium was filled to the brim. Liverpool won the match 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Liverpool’s Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Malaysia’s Izzaq Faris Ramlan head for the ball during their Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 16, 2011. Liverpool won 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Liverpool’s Daniel Agger and Malaysia’s Ahmad Fakri Saarani struggle for the ball during their Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 16, 2011. Liverpool won 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Liverpool’s Jack Robinson and Malaysia’s Baddrol Bakhtiar tussle for the ball during their Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 16, 2011. Liverpool won 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star

Liverpool’s captain Dirk Kuyt kisses his ring after scoring a goal against Malaysia during the Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur July 16, 2011. Liverpool won 6-3. GLENN GUAN/The Star