PETALING JAYA: Winger S. Chanturu is glad to return to the national football team after a two-year hiatus.
The 26-year-old player has been included in the 23-player list by new coach Dollah Salleh for the friendly against Tajikistan in Dushanbe on Aug 8.
Chanturu last featured for the national team in 2012, then under the guidance of Datuk K. Rajagopal. He was later sidelined by several niggling injuries.
The Sarawak player was the leading local top scorer in the Super League with six goals, but was surprisingly left out by national interim coach Datuk Ong Kim Swee for a friendly against the Philippines in April.
Chanturu said the omission strengthened his resolve to work harder and return to the team.
“I’m happy to be back after missing out on the Philippines match. I never gave up. Now, I plan to work even harder to be a regular in the team,” said the Kulim-born Chanturu.
Dollah also gave Pahang winger R. Gopinathan, Johor Darul Ta’zim striker Norshahrul Idlan Talaha and Police centreback Mohd Muslim Ahmad a chance to resurrect their international careers.
The former international striker also included regular faces – skipper Mohd Aidil Zafuan Abdul Razak, Safiq Rahim, Mohd Badhri Radzi, Mohd Amri Yahyah and Mohd Safee Sali – for the trip to Tajikistan.
The 50-year-old Dollah is using the friendly to prepare the team for the AFF Suzuki Cup in November.
“I don’t know what coach Dollah has in mind for me. But I do know he likes to have fast wingers in his team,” said Chanturu.
“He has also called several good wingers ... it will be hard to break into the starting 11 but I’m ready to fight for it. My target is to get at least 45 minutes of action against Tajikistan.”
Besides Tajikistan, Dollah has also lined up friendlies against Singapore, Jordan and New Zealand before the Suzuki Cup.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Farizal Marlias (Sel), Khairul Fahmi Che Mat (Kel), Khairul Azhan Khalid (Pah).
Defenders: Aidil Zafuan Razak, Fadhli Shas, Mahalli Jasuli, Asraruddin Putra Omar (JDT), Bunyamin Umar (Sel), Zubir Azmi (Ter), Mohd Muslim Ahmad (Pol).
Midfielders: Amri Yahyah, Safiq Rahim (JDT), Azamuddin Akil, Hafiz Kamal, R. Gopinathan (Pah), S. Kunanlan (Sel), Badhri Radzi (Kel), S. Chanturu (Sar), Baddrol Bakhtiar (Ked).
Forwards: Norshahrul Idlan Talaha, Safee Sali (JDT), Ahmad Fakri Saarani (Kel), Norfarhan Muhammad (Ter).
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