HAZ ZWAN TELLS SAFEE, NOR RSHAHRUL: MY TIME IS ... NOW
Hazwan ready to end domination of Safee and Norshahrul
PETALING JAYA: National striker Ahmad Hazwan Bakri aims to end the seniors’ hegemony in the AFF Suzuki Cup.
Veteran strikers Safee Sali and Norshahrul Idlan Talaha have been Malaysia’s mainstay in the last three editions of the tournament since forging a deadly partnership when the country lifted the Cup in 2010. Safee went on to bag the Golden Boot award with five goals.
The 25-year-old Hazwan, who made his debut for Malaysia in 2012, has yet to play at the biennial competition but is expected to get his chance in the starting line-up in Yangon. The tournament starts on Saturday with the final on Nov 26.
Coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee paired Hazwan with newcomer Darren Lok and the duo performed admirably in the 2-1 win over Papua New Guinea in Malaysia’s final warm-up match at the Shah Alam Stadium on Monday.
Hazwan, who plays for Selangor, scored the equaliser against the Papuans while Johor Darul Ta’zim II player Darren won a spotkick for the team which was converted by skipper Mohd Amri Yahyah.
“There’s always been a strong competition among the strikers in the team and it has been difficult for me to break into the starting line-up,” said Hazwan who was an unused substitute in the 2012 tournament and was not in the 2014 squad.
“I think I have grown by leaps and bound as a player with Selangor. I’m now hungry to play a bigger role with the national team.
“The coach knows me well from my Harimau Muda days and I’m happy that he believes in my abilities. I’ll repay his faith by helping the team win and perhaps score a few goals.”
Malaysia will begin their Group B campaign against Cambodia at the Thuwunna Stadium on Sunday followed by matches against Vietnam (Nov 23) and hosts Myanmar (Nov 26).
Labuan-born Hazwan added that his budding partnership with Darren can only get better with more matches.
“We had a good outing against Papua despite it being the first time we were playing together.
“I hope we will hit the ground running in Yangon,” said Hazwan who has scored seven goals from 17 matches for Malaysia.