Prestigious football award within sight

PETALING JAYA: Local football fans are waiting with bated breath as in just a matter of days, Fifa will announce its shortlist of three players for the Puskas Award, from the 10 nominated.

For the first time ever, a Malaysian is in the running for the coveted award.

Mohd Faiz Subri, who shot a spectacular freekick to score for Penang against Pahang in a Super League match on Feb 16, will be contending with some of the world’s best players, such as Lionel Messi and Neymar of Barcelona.

Nobody at the Bandaraya Pulau Pinang Stadium that day would forget the incredible double-curve trajectory of the ball after Faiz fired it off with a kick that has set the internet alight. His shot stunned Pahang goalkeeper Mohd Nasril Nourdin to the extent that the hapless goalie stood frozen as the ball smashed into the back of the net.

While social media has been abuzz that Faiz is in one of the top positions for the award, Fifa will not release any official updates until Dec 3 when it makes the announcement of the final three shortlisted candidates.

Malaysians can tip the scales in favour of Mohd Faiz by voting for him at www. fifa.com/the-best-fifafootball-awards/puskasaward/

The Puskas Award, which Fifa started in 2009, is named after famed Hungarian player Ference Puskas, who is considered one of the finest centre-forwards the game has seen.