FAM nominates Syahmi for FIFA best goal award

KUALA LUMPUR: The Football Association of Malaysia ( FAM) have agreed to propose the goal scored by youngster Muhammad Syahmi Safari during the 2018 Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup semi- final, secondleg clash against Thailand to be nominated for this year’s FIFA Puskas Award.

FAM secretary- general Stuart Ramalingam said they would send an official letter to FIFA to suggest that the 21-year- old’s goal be listed as one of the candidates for the prestigious award.

Muhammad Syahmi scored the goal from outside the box after a slick passing move in the 28th minute of the game at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok on Dec 5 last year. It took seven incisive passes, starting from goalkeeper Mohd Farizal Marlias, before Muhammad Syahmi pulled the trigger with a right-footed shot.

“We hope that it will be listed as one of the 10 candidates for the award,” said Stuart.

For the record, former Penang player Mohd Faiz Subri created history when he became the first player in Asia to bag the award in 2016, putting him in the esteemed company of international stars to have won the award like Cristiano Ron al do, Neymar, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, James Rodriguez and Mohamed Salah.

Faiz scored the wonder goal off a free- kick during Penang’s 2016 Super League match against Pahang.