KUALA LUMPUR – Defender Ahmad Khuzaimi Piee has attributed his solid performance in the Tier-1 international friendly against the Philippines on Wednesday (March 23) to the support and guidance of his Harimau Malaya teammates.
He said their backing, especially by the more experienced players, really helped him settle down in just his second international outing with the Harimau Malaya since 2016.
According to the Negeri Sembilan FC player, the words of motivation expressed by fans also helped him play a key role in the Harimau Malaya backline en route to a 2-0 win over the Philippines.
“In the game against the Philippines, every player showed total commitment on the field.
“It was my second appearance with the national team but the guidance from the seniors helped me perform well. Besides that, the support from all my teammates also had an influence on my game,” he told a media conference today ahead of tomorrow’s match against Singapore.
The clash against Singapore at the National Stadium in the republic tomorrow will be the second outing for the Harimau Malaya under the guidance of new head coach Kim Pan Gon and they will be looking to wrap up the FAS Tri-Nations Series on a winning note.
The win over the Philippines on Wednesday was Malaysia’s first against the Azkals since 2012, with both teams having drawn all their five previous clashes.
Pan Gon’s decision to field Ahmad Khuzaimi in the starting 11 and pair him up with Shahrul Mohd Saad of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) surprised many fans as he (Ahmad Khuzaimi) had not featured on the international stage for a long time.
Ahmad Khuzaimi, meanwhile, hopes to continue his fine form if fielded against Singapore.
Pan Gon’s men will round up their series of friendlies in Singapore, which is also part of their preparations for the 2023 Asian Cup Qualifiers, by taking on local club side Albirex Niigata FC on Monday (March 28).
