KUALA LUMPUR: Ex-national footballers Dollah Salleh and Zainal Abidin Hassan — the two most feared strikers in the region in the past - are excited that the Merdeka Tournament is making its return after a 10-year lapse.
Dollah picked the1986 edition as the most memorable for Harimau Malaya.
"I feel we had the best team in 1986. We performed well to beat Japan 2-1, and in the final, we overcame Czechoslovakia 3-0 to win the title," said Dollah at the launch of the Merdeka Tournament in Wangsa Maju on Thursday.
"The tournament was popular in the past, and many teams wanted to be part of it," said Dollah.
Zainal said he earned his first national call-up in 1980 to play in the tournament.
He hopes the Merdeka Tournament will re-establish itself as one of the best competitions in Asia.
"The Merdeka Tournament used to be like the World Cup of Asia. Other countries would send their best teams for the tournament.
"Let's hope it will regain its status soon," Zainal said