PETALING JAYA: After a two-year hiatus, 2016 FIFA Puskas Award winner Mohd Faiz Subri, is set to make a return to football with former team Penang next season.
The 33-year-old midfielder, who became the first Asian footballer to win the award, has signed the acceptance letter to play for the Panthers in 2022.
It came as a surprise as Faiz had not played football for the past two years due to the pandemic.
In 2020, he signed for M3 side Northern Lions but did not play as the league was cancelled due to Covid-19. And this year, he joined another M3 club Kuala Kangsar but again, the league was annulled.
Faiz, who played for Penang from 2015 to 2019, said he agreed to the return after talks with the management.
“I haven’t played in the Super League for a long time, so I know I need to train harder when I join the team. The discussions went well, and it feels good to be back with them,” said Faiz, who had also played for Terengganu and Kelantan.
“The club said I would get an ambassadorial role to market the team. I will also be tasked to lead the youngsters in the team next season. But being a footballer, you obviously want to make an impact on the field too.
“Many may question their decision to sign a player who has not played a professional game in two years. But I’ve not been away from the game. I’ve trained these two years and made sure to keep myself fit and ready for any opportunity that comes.
“Age-wise, yes, I am older, but you’ve to understand that age is no obstacle. In football if you played with love and passion, can take you places. If given a chance, I would surely do my best.”
Faiz gained worldwide attention when his thunderous freekick from 32m took a wicked swerve to go past a stunned Pahang goalkeeper Nasril Nourdin in a Super League game at the City Stadium in Georgetown, on Feb 16, 2016.
Penang won 4-1 and the kick went viral on social media for its “physics-defying flight”. The free kick goal he scored was nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award later that year by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).
The nomination was accepted by FIFA, and Faiz subsequently won the award after winning 60% of the online votes, beating Marlone of Brazil and Daniuska Rodriguez of Venezuela.
The award is given to the male or female judged to have scored the most aesthetically significant, or “most beautiful”, goal of the year.
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