Kind-hearted Safawi vows to clean up his act for JDT

The year 2020 has not been good so far Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) winger Safawi Rasid (pic), but he is not going to let that keep him down for the next nine months.

The 23-year-old mercurial winger has played three competitive matches, two in the AFC Champions League and one in the Malaysia Super League, and scored a goal but critics, including fans, have lambasted his lacklustre displays on the flanks.

Even club’s owner Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim commented that there was a dip in his performance, but Safawi has vowed to come back stronger once the season resumes.

“I was criticised by the netizens for my subdued performances in the first few matches of the season. Actually, in the past, I got worst, but I always found a way to bounce back,” said the former T-Team player, who was however defended by his coach Benjamin Mora.

“I just recovered from an injury, and that is why I missed the last three matches.I hope to come back to my true self.

“During the injury period, I worked on myself physically and gathered the courage to give my best on the pitch again.

“Some criticisms were constructive, but there were some demeaning ones, which I chose to ignore. I will do my best to shut those critics up.”

However, his plan for a quick comeback were scuppered when the league was postponed due to the Covid-19 situation.

For now, Safawi is staying fit by working out at home with his brother Alfi Rasid, who plays for JDT III in the President Cup.

“I often use the exercise bike and do anything that makes me sweat. Like all other players, I am following the programmes sent by the team’s fitness coach.

“It is also important to keep a good diet. Right now, I am taking lots of protein and fibre. Luckily, I had enough at home before the movement control order was imposed,” he said.

Safawi is not just looking after himself, but giving to society as well as the country fights the dangerous virus.

He and his brothers are producing hand sanitisers and giving them away to communities in Terengganu and Johor Baru.

“My plan was to help my family and my brothers who are taking care of it. In Johor Baru, I saw some hospitals needing sanitisers, so I decided to distribute them to some hospitals.

”Looking at the frontliners, I feel for them. I urge everyone to just stay at home. Every Malaysians want this to end but it also up to us to put a stop to it.”