KUALA LUMPUR – Despite just recovering from a knee injury, winger Muhammad Safawi Rasid is bent on going on the attack to help the Harimau Malaya qualify for the next round in the 2022 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month.
The Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) player, who was sidelined for a month after suffering left knee injury during a Super League match against UiTM FC in March, looks to have returned to his best after scoring a goal in JDT’s 3-0 win of Penang FC on May 8.
Muhammad Safawi, 24, attributed his return to form to the support of his teammates.
“It isn’t easy to recover from a knee injury but I am fully recovered and eager to prove that I can help Malaysia qualify for the next round,” he said in a virtual media conference today.
The Terengganu-born player hopes to form a strong understanding with his teammates as they make their final preparations in Dubai before their friendly match against Kuwait tomorrow that will hopefully help them get into the groove ahead of the qualifiers.
He also believes that the players selected by head coach Tan Cheng Hoe this time are the best following the inclusion of newcomers like Liridon Krasniqi (Newcastle Jets), Luqman Hakim Shamsudin (KV Kortrijk), Guilherme De Paula (JDT), Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi (JDT) and Junior Eldstal (Chonburi FC).
Although he is regarded as one of the squad’s main stars, Muhammad Safawi said that won’t guarantee him a place in the starting eleven for the qualifiers and that he would leave it to Cheng Hoe to make the call.
“Of course I want to be in the first eleven by giving my best in training, but it’s up to the coach to decide.
“Everyone here has his own responsibility. I see Arif Aiman, Mohamadou Sumareh and Muhammad Akhyar Abdul Rashid as those competing with me for the position on either flanks,” he said.
Muhammad Safawi also hoped that the players would be able to adapt to the conditions in the UAE, especially the weather, and can put on their best during the qualifying campaign.
After their friendly against Kuwait tomorrow, the national squad will play another warm-up match against Bahrain in Manama on May 28.
Malaysia will wrap up their Group G qualifying matches against the UAE on June 3, followed by Vietnam (June 11) and Thailand (June 15).
