KUALA LUMPUR: Harimau Malaya's first training session in Phnom Penh ahead of the Asean Cup was briefly disrupted by what head coach Pau Marti Vicente suspects were spy drones.
Despite this, the team stay focused during training on Friday ahead of their Group A opener against Cambodia at the Olympic Stadium tomorrow.
However, Vicente dismissed the notion that the hosts were behind the intrusion.
"I don't think it was the Cambodian national team. We faced some issues with drones hovering above our training pitch. It was disappointing, but our players handled it well, and we still have one more session before facing Cambodia," said Vicente.
The Spanish coach said his team also use drones to film training sessions, making it crucial to ensure there were no unauthorised devices in the area.
"It could have been a coincidence, but it didn't seem like it, as the drones were coming from the side.
"We continued with our session, and the most important thing is what we do on the pitch," said Vicente during a pre-match press conference in Phnom Penh today.
This incident sheds light on the increasing use of drones in sports.
Earlier this year, three Canadian coaches were handed one-year FIFA bans after being caught using drones to spy on New Zealand's training sessions during the Paris Olympics.
Looking ahead to tomorrow's opener, Vicente said his team are ready for the challenge.
"It's never easy playing away from home. Cambodia have talented players and passionate fans," he said.
Group A also includes defending champions Thailand, Singapore and Timor Leste.
Captain Syafiq Ahmad also echoed his coach's confidence, saying Harimau Malaya are determined to make an impression.
"We're very excited for this tournament. We hope to go further and make our country proud," said Syafiq.