Shaji Prabhakaran, the general secretary of the All India Football Federation (AIFF), confirmed that India will participate in the Merdeka Cup when it resumes in Malaysia.
India will participate in the Merdeka Cup whenever it occurs, as was agreed upon while they were in Malaysia a few months ago. Suddenly, some false information caused confusion. Shaji Prabhakaran stated that the Malaysian FA recently announced India’s participation.
Additionally, Shaji Prabhakaran stated that the dates and specifics have not yet been confirmed. They will confirm it, but we will undoubtedly be present.
Prior to its suspension in 2013, the Merdeka Cup was one of Asia’s oldest and most prestigious international football competitions. P. K. Banerjee and Tulsidas Balaram, two of India’s Golden Era stars, performed admirably in that competition.
Shaji Prabhakaran asserts that Merdeka has an emotional connection to India. The Indian flag was raised whenever India participated in the 1950s, 1960s, or 1970s. Therefore, we would like to be present when Merdeka resumes and provide our players with more competitive exposure. Also, our team can develop in this manner.
Prabhakaran continued, they have to bring back those glory days of football, and they will absolutely take whatever steps they have to, in collaboration with everyone, to achieve that. He added that they had to do so. In 1959 and 1964, India finished in second place at the Merdeka Cup. In 1959, the Blue Tigers won the tournament without losing a game.
