BANGKOK: The national football team's AFF Cup campaign may have ended in disappointment but skipper Faisal Halim believes the current squad has plenty of potential for the future.
Harimau Malaya crashed out 3-1 on aggregate to Thailand in the AFF Cup semi-final after losing the second leg 3-0 at the Thammasat Stadium yesterday.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Faisal is hoping the current squad will be retained for future competitions so they can continue to develop.
"I believe we will be successful if this squad is retained for the next two or three years. It will take time but this is also what Thailand and Vietnam have done," said the diminutive forward.
"It's not easy to achieve success in the space of a month. We have done our best and the fans are proud to see us reaching this far.
"Of course I'm disappointed with the result but I'm happy with the effort shown by the players. As the team captain, I apologise for failing to reach the final."
The 25-year-old emerged as the national team's top scorer in the competition with four goals to his name.
Faisal admitted that he did not expect the team to lose the second leg 3-0.
"This is how it is in football, it was just not meant to be. The newcomers to the team have gained some valuable experience but there is still plenty for us to learn," added Faisal.
"Coach Kim (Pan Gon) is a top coach because he knows how to use the players well and is always sincere with his work."