Pillar in defence: Ubaidullah Samsul Fazili warming up before the game against JDT II. — Terengganu FC
PETALING JAYA: Terengganu’s 19-year-old centreback Ubaidullah Samsul Fazili is seizing the centrestage in a way that he couldn’t have imagined earlier.
The national Under-23 player, fondly known as just Ubai, will be appearing in two finals with the Turtles – the MFL Cup and Malaysia Cup – against the same opponents, Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT II).
Ubaidullah will get his first chance at glory today as Terengganu II take on JDT II in the MFL Cup final at the Cheras Football Stadium.
He admitted that never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be in two finals this year.
“Two finals in one season – it’s amazing. For a youngster like me, it’s like a dream and it has yet to sink in. Plus the fact that we’re playing JDT ... makes it kind of surreal,’’ he said.
Ubaidullah stressed that before the season started, his goal was just to focus on his development with Terengganu II in the MFL Cup.
That he did, featuring in 15 games and being instrumental in helping them top Group A with 34 points.
In the next stage of the competition, they topped the group again and qualified for the final where they will face second-placed JDT II in the final.
Ubaidullah’s sterling displays caught the eye of Terengganu first team coach Tomislav Steinbruckner, who roped him in for some Super League and Malaysia Cup action.
He did not disappoint, playing four matches in the Super League and five in the Malaysia Cup where his solid defending helped Terengganu set up a showdown with JDT at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Dec 8.
On top of that, Ubaidullah also featured in the AFC Cup two times, making quite an impression.
If he goes on to win both finals with Terengganu, Ubaidullah will be hot property and the Turtles may have a hard time ‘’defending’’ him from the giants on the lookout for a steady rock at the back.
