SAFAWI STAKES MVP CLAIM
JDT player in contention for three awards today
SAFAWI Rasid is expected to be hailed as Malaysia’s best footballer today. The Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) ace can walk away with three prizes at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
The Terengganu-born Safawi is staking a strong claim in two categories — the Best Midfielder and Most Promising Player at the National Football awards at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur. And that also makes him a strong contender for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.
Safawi, 21, has stamped his mark in Malaysian football this year, where he inspired Malayisa to the Asian Under-23 Championship quarter-finals and the Asian Games last eight. He also helped JDT win the Super League title.
Safawi, who is in the final 23-man squad for the AFF Suzuki Cup on Nov 8-Dec 15, has also been nominated for the Best Midfielder award.
Challenging Safawi for the Best Midfielder award are Kelantan’s Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat and Nor Azam Abdul Azih of Pahang.
Safawi’s rivals in the Most Promising Player category are Akhyar Rashid (Kedah) and Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat (Kelantan).
For the Best Defender category, S. Kunanlan will be challenged by Perak’s Shahrul Saad and last year’s winner Matthew Davies.
JDT’s Gonzalo Cabrera has been nominated for the Best Foreign Player award together with Terengganu’s Lee Tuck and Super League top scorer Rufino Segovia.
In the Best Coach category, the battle will be among Felda United’s B. Sathianathan, Pahang’s Dollah Salleh and Perak’s Mehmet Durakovic.
This year’s award will also see a new addition, Best Asean player, in recognition of the imports from Southeast Asia.
Best Website:
Farizal Marlias (JDT), Hafizul Hakim (Perak), Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Melaka).
Matthew Davies (Pahang), Shahrul Saad (Perak), S. Kunanlan (JDT).
Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat (Kelantan), Nor Azam Azih (Pahang), Safawi Rasid (JDT).
Ahmad Hazwan Bakri (JDT), Akhyar Rashid (Kedah), Shahrel Fikri Md Fauzi (PKNP FC). Akhyar Rashid (Kedah), Nik Akif Syahiran Nik Mat (Kelantan), Safawi Rasid (JDT).
B. Sathianathan (Felda United), Dollah Salleh (Pahang), Mehmet Durakovic
Faris Ramli (PKNS FC), Hariss Harun (JDT), Safuwan Baharuddin (Pahang).
FC. JDT, Selangor, Terengganu