Cool newbie
National U-19 striker Adam breaks the ice and is ready to get hot
Newbie Mohd Adam Nadzmi Zamri is only just breaking the ice with his teammates in the national Under-19 set-up – and he is fast warming up to them and to coach Brad Maloney.
The 18-year-old striker, who trains with the British International School Phuket’s (BISP) Cruzeiro Football Academy in Phuket, Thailand, is having his first taste of national assignments and admitted that he needed some time to strike up conversations with his new teammates in the first phase of the training camp for the 2020 AFC Under-19 Championships.
A week into training, he is enjoying the positive and friendly environment at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya.
“I do not know most of the players, so it took time for me to get out of my comfort zone to strike up conversations. Now, things are great, and I could not be happier,” he said.
“The most obvious thing that I saw in this team is how they support each other during training, especially when we are doing something wrong. Now, communicating with these players is not a big deal at all.
“I can say that coach Maloney is one of the best that I’ve met. I love it when he always tries to crack jokes to ease the tension during training.
“Even though Malay is not his mother tongue, he still tries to engage with the players by speaking in Malay, which to me is enough to make any player comfortable with the coach.”
The former Sekolah Menengah Sains Tun Syed Sheh Shahabuddin student wants to make his presence felt and push for a spot
I can say that coach Maloney is one of the best that I’ve met. I love it when he always tries to crack jokes to ease the tension during training.
Mohd Adam Nadzmi Zamri
among the final 23 to Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
“I will not take discipline for granted during this centralised camp. I have to be precise with my time management, manage my behaviour and also give my 100% in every session.
“As a striker, I need to show that I can score goals and do things in the attacking third.”
From Wednesday onwards, the youngster will be able to show what he has in his tank. That is when contact training will be allowed to resume.
Adam knows he has a lot of time to develop himself as a player and hopes to play in an international league once he turns professional.
He helped his academy finish second in the Under-19 Iber Cup in Estoril, Portugal, last year and scored two goals in five matches.
“I just want to get better every day. I’m always hungry to learn.
“I hope to increase my mental strength, physical ability and technical prowess. The aim is to be a complete player and play in an international league. That is the dream.”