KUALA LUMPUR: Former international Safee Sali reminded the national players not to succumb to pressure and distractions as they prepare to rekindle their fierce rivalry with Singapore in a must-win Asean Cup Group A clash at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Friday.
Harimau Malaya face an uphill battle to advance to the semi-finals, with interim coach Pau Marti Vicente's side missing several key players.
Adding to the challenge, Malaysia's last five encounters with Singapore have resulted in two wins, two defeats and one draw.
Safee, the Golden Boot winner when Malaysia lifted the Asean Cup in 2010, urged fans to also fully support the team and show maturity, avoiding insults or abuse.
His plea comes after national goalkeeper Haziq Nadzli and his family faced online abuse following his costly mistake in the 1-0 defeat to Thailand at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok last week.
"This is an important match for our national team. The players are used to facing Singapore, so I don't think they will feel much pressure," said Safee.
"The team showed discipline and played well against Thailand. They deserve credit for their performance – only the result didn't go our way.
"For the Singapore game, the players already know what mistakes to fix. They need to prove themselves with a win and secure a place in the next stage. Matches like this are always nervy and heated.
"The fans must play their part and support the team at the stadium. What happened to Haziq must not happen again. Fans need to be mature and avoid targeting sensitive matters like family and children."
Safee, who was unveiled as a Konami eFootball Exclusive Epic Card in the Harimau Malaya Stars series, added that eSports provides another platform for Malaysians to bring pride to the nation.
"I am truly honoured to receive this Epic status card in eFootball. It's a proud moment for me and Malaysian football.
"I encourage Malaysians to join the game and play as our national heroes like Arif Aiman Hanapi, Dominic Tan and myself.
"Together, let's show the world what Malaysian football can achieve and continue igniting the passion of fans everywhere," he said.