Better days ahead for national team, says JDT captain Safiq

JOHOR BARU: Former national players Safiq Rahim and Mohd Amirulhadi Zainal can’t help being inspired by the election of Tunku Mahkota Johor ( TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim as the new Football Association of Malaysia ( FAM) president.

The 28-year-old Safiq said that he was confident the arrival of Tunku Ismail would bring about positive changes and better days ahead for the national team.

“Tunku Ismail will be able to guide other state FAs and affiliates to follow his vision and I’m sure we can see positive changes soon,” he added.

When asked if he would be interested in playing for Malaysia again, Safiq said he would consider the offer.

“At the moment, my focus is on Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) and my business ventures.

“But who knows, we can’t predict the future and if there’s an opportunity for me to represent my country again, I will think about it,” he said.

Last July, four JDT players – Safiq, Amirulhadi, S. Kunalan and Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak – announced their retirement from international football.

Amirulhadi even said that he was ready to play for the national team again.

“It all depends on FAM and the national coach.

“And if they still believe that I have what it takes to play for Malaysia again.

“I’ll always be available to play for my country.”

Tunku Ismail is the sixth president of the FAM.

He won the hotseat unopposed after Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa’s surprise announcement in Parliament on Thursday to pull out of the two-horse race.

Two other candidates – Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and FAM Integrity Committee chairman Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat – had withdrawn earlier.