PETALING JAYA: Indra Putra Mahayuddin is 33 and has been plying his trade in top flight football for 16 years.
But don’t expect him to hang up his boots any time soon.
The football nomad is still going strong, having played with six different teams since making his debut for Perak in 1999.
The versatile Indra showed that he has lost none of his predatory instincts when he bagged a hat-trick for Felda United in their 4-0 win over Armed Forces in a Super League match at the Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium in Paroi on Wednesday.
“I still feel great and fit after all these years ... I don’t intend to stop playing any time soon. I can continue playing for another three to four years,” said the national winger.
Felda United coach Irfan Bakti was spot-on with his tactics when he unleashed Indra after a goalless first-half.
Indra came on as a substitute in the 46th minute for Muhd Hadin Azman and found the net in the 67th, 83rd and 86th minutes. Liberian Zah Rahan Krangar added the fourth in the 88th minute.
He scored his first from the penalty spot after speedy winger Christie Jayaseelan was brought down by Badrul Hisham Sufian inside the box. Indra doubled the score with a powerful shot past Syed Adney Syed Hussein before knocking in a rebound after Syed Adney had saved his spot kick three minutes later to complete his hat-trick.
Asked how he maintains his fitness, he replied: “At my age, I must discipline myself to get enough sleep and have a proper diet with lots of vitamins.”
Felda are fourth in the 12-team Super League standings with 25 points, eight behind leaders Pahang who beat Sarawak 3-1 in Kuantan. JDT, who did not play because of Thursday’s friendly with Borussia Dortmund, retain second spot on 28 points, just one ahead of third-placed Perak, who lost 2-1 to Lions XII in Singapore.
The other matches on Wednesday saw Terengganu beat Sime Darby FC 2-1 and Kelantan beat Police 3-1.
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