KUALA LUMPUR: National Under-23 (U-23) captain Ubaidullah Shamsul Fazili's voice was heavy with emotion as he described the Young Tigers' heartbreak after failing to qualify for the 2026 Asian Cup - their second crushing setback this year after July's AFF Championship.
"It's hard even to find the words," he said.
"We're disappointed, we're ashamed. We gave everything and came up short again. It hurts because we played well, we followed the coach's new ideas, but in football, if you don't get the result, it means nothing."
The silence in the dressing room said it all as Ubaidullah shared the team's most vulnerable moments.
"Some of us cried. Some just sat there staring at the floor. You could see it in everyone's eyes - frustration, disbelief. A few of the boys just kept running, trying to shake it off," he shared.
"But at the end of the day, God decides everything. Maybe this isn't our time. We'll keep fighting. We have to."
The 22-year-old did not sugarcoat the gap Malaysia must close to catch up with its Southeast Asian rivals.
"This was our last tournament together, and we wanted so badly to prove ourselves. But the reality is there's a difference in quality," he said.
"Look at Thailand... their players are stars, playing first-team football, with considerable market value. I hardly even play for my own club. Our squad depth isn't there. The coach (Nafuzi Zain) doesn't have many options because our player pool is small. We need stronger preparation if we want to change this.
"The coaches feel it too. We don't want to be the reason anyone loses their job. That's hard to live with.
"To win back our pride, we have to bring something home from the Sea Games. We owe that to ourselves and to the fans."
Having faced Thailand and Indonesia, Ubaidullah said the difference comes down to crucial moments.
"They're used to high-intensity international football. Their final pass, their last touch... those small details decide games. We can run as much as they can, but in front of the goal, we hesitate. That's what separates us," he said.
Still, he refuses to believe the dream is too far away and said that they will keep thinking and strive towards better days.
"After three years with the U-23s, I know we can take these teams on. We're not that far behind as people think. That's why it's so painful, we were confident we could beat them. To fall short again is heartbreaking," he said.
"If we keep believing and work even harder, we can shock people. Hopefully, at the Sea Games, we'll show who we really are."
