Fandi Wants A Fitting Goodbye To SEA Games Football

4 Mei, 2015

PETALING JAYA: National Under-23 player Mohd Fandi Othman aims to reclaim the SEA Games football gold medal in Singapore as a parting gift for the team.

Fandi is no stranger to the Games. In his debut at the Games in Indonesia in 2011, he helped Malaysia retain the gold.

But Fandi, who is equally adept at playing as a defender or a winger on the left flank, missed the 2013 Myanmar Games due to a serious knee injury. Malaysia were knocked out in the semi-finals by Indonesia.

This time, Malaysia are in Group B with Thailand, Vietnam, Timor Leste, Laos and Brunei. Group A has Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and the Philippines.

“We need to win back the gold. It was a massive blow for me to miss the Myanmar Games so I want to make amends by helping the team to win the gold,” said the 23-year-old.

“This will be my last SEA Games ... it’s the same with most of my batch-mates from the Harimau Muda A squad. It would be a perfect sending off for the team if we win the gold. We are all hungry for success.

“Some of the players in the current squad have played in the last two Games. We have the experience to become champions again.”

Fandi missed most of the 2013 season due to his knee injury, but was picked to skipper the Harimau Muda A squad in the National Premier League in Queensland, Australia, in 2014. The Harimau Muda A finished ninth in the 13-team league.

Fandi also played for the national Under-23 team at the Incheon Asian Games in South Korea last year. He scored a goal in the 4-0 group-stage win over Laos but Malaysia failed to qualify for the last 16.

Fandi joined Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) this season, but the lack of playing time saw him drop to Premier League side JDT II last month.

“It’s not a problem for me to play in the second tier as I’ve more chances to show off my abilities,” said the former Bukit Jalil Sports School student.

Sumber - K. Rajan, Star Online www.thestar.com.my