Malaysia looks to Games success to fire revival

Malaysia's prime minister is hoping the country's first South East Asian Games soccer title in two decades will be a springboard to a revival of the nation's footballing fortunes.                                           

Malaysia beat Vietnam 1-0 in the final of the under-23 tournament in Vientiane, Laos on Thursday to win regional bragging rights for the fourth time, but the first since 1989.                                           

"We wish to see a significant change in the position of our football team compared to the other nations," prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told the New Straits Times newspaper.                                           

"We should use this victory as a stepping stone for greater success in future."                                           

While many Malaysians are passionate about soccer and the country is a popular stop on Asian pre-season tours for the likes of Manchester United, the national team have never qualified for the World Cup and are currently 160th in the FIFA rankings.